August

We had some family fun doing spa night when Jim went on an adventure with Michael. Face masks!

The girls got their nails painted and had fun picking out colors.

We did two weeks of morning gymnastics camp during the hottest weeks of summer. The kids loved it and learned some fun moves.

Chalk explosion! They needed a bath after this one!

At our house we shovel food in our mouths. Literally.

Cinnamon roll cake- we tested it out and then made one for Jim to give to an office.

The bathroom floor finally got finished! So nice to have the kids bathroom back.

Meet the teacher day was amazing to just walk to the school. Couldn't believe how easy it was to walk.

Found this random picture of the kids bowing to John on a lego chair. They're copying a scene from a Scooby doo movie. Crazy kids!

We took a two day trip to Williamsburg. Lots of pancake houses so we tried a few out.

On our way to Jamestown we found a fiddler crab haven!

Jim with a fiddler crab.

 

We went on a sailing trip and the kids each got turns sailing and the patient captain answered their 1000 questions!

 

Jim helping raise a sail! He said it was hard work.

 

We had John in his stroller for the first part of the sailing trip, just chomping away on pretzels.

 

The boys were thrilled to be on the water.

 Yorktown with George Washington. Quite an amazing museum that enthralled our whole family.

Nicole steering

Katy loved sailing more than anyone. She leaned over the edge of the boat whenever she could and Jim had to hold tight to her the whole time. She loved looking around!

A sweet woman held John when he wouldn't stop fussing and he fell right asleep it was a blessing! We got to become friends with her and her family, they live in New York City.

More of Yorktown after the sail. They have a soldier camp reenactment.

Checking out the writing and chest in the tent.

Musket firing demo

Mike was THRILLED to hold the gun

So Jake wanted to hold it as well

And Diana had to get in on the action, of course

Diana signing up for the army

You can't see it, but they are fingering a pig leg that has been preserved in salt. Totally gross to me, they loved it. Diana ended up covered in this salt all over her arms. Yuck!

Took a break from historical and did Busch Gardens. Jake about to get a mega splash!

The next morning we went to Colonial Williamsburg and walked around but didn't spend the money to go inside and listen to lectures. It was just the right pace.

They had their farmers market going and there were some fun tents.

Jake's first putt went careening down the entire market with Jim chasing after it. We are not a family of golfers :)

Jamestown fort soldiers

Exploring the ships that were the same size as the first people to come to Jamestown. It was crazy how small the quarters were.

Jake facing off pirates in his imagination.

They had a really cool Native American Indian camp and this totem pole area was on one side. The kids went right over and did some meditation. Jim and I were cracking up.

Eclipse here in Raleigh was 95 percent.

Pretty cool to see.

Mike's birthday wish was a slither.io (computer game) cake. I made a variety of cinnamon rolls and frosted them.

We used gummies to fill in the "screen"

Mike loved it! All the kids were imagining the different game scenarios.

Playing Pokémon Monopoly is the new big thing at our house. It was Mikes bday present and they play at least once a day.

I took the kids to a life and science museum before our membership expires. They love the interactive screens.

Catching butterflies.

Digging for fossils- I think they'd stay here all day if I let them.

Sailing boats

We had a cousin hangout at our pool before school started. This is just our kids!

 

And then they were off! New school this year, they wear uniforms which makes laundry and each morning very easy.

Diana loves it. She is exhausted every day, but does great!

Katy playing with Diana after school. They miss their sister time.

After school snack of chocolate drizzled apples. They downed these so fast!

Jake already got recognized for showing compassion to a classmate. He also wakes everyone up at 5:45 so they can get started on their day. He has some real gifts with self discipline at home and school that will bless his life.

Diana made herself a triple decker pb&j. She is such a unique girl :)

We made it through week one of a new school and got out of the house to do a hike. At the exact midpoint of the hike Diana urgently had to go #2 but managed to survive until we got back because she didn't dare wander off the trail where spiders were haha. It was quite the hike!

You can't see from the camera well, but there is a huge orb spider and the kids got as close as they dared to watch it weave.

Sunday was difficult for the kids to sit still today. We came home and sang all the hymns and sat still for 20 minutes to help teach the kids that yes this is what reverence is like. I found this pic on my phone from Sacrament meeting at a point when both Jim and I were in the hallway with half of the kids. Some Sundays we rock it. Some Sundays we want to crawl under that rock haha. I'm grateful for the Spirit of the building that John and I can soak up as we walk the halls.

John is about to start walking. He does up to 10 steps but can crawl like a maniac so prefers that still. He is interested in everything and has the energy of the Energizer bunny. He is tough and wants to be in the thick of everything. When he sees his siblings, his face lights up with delight and they love making him part of their adventures. It will be fun to see how his personality develops over time. Love this little man.