So its the time of the year I dread most...I'm going to miss the boys so much! We have had the best summer together (I think I say that every year :)
We have been living it up...trying to make the most of every moment! Going to the beach 1 last time, the pool, using our free "Happy Meal" coupons...the rest of the pictures are not in order but you can get the idea...One of the boys favorite times of the year...our Church's Father/Child Campout...sounds like a "blast"...
Zach spent a lot of time playing with the toads & frogs
And this picture captures the "itch"... 54 mosquitos bites for Zach, 34 for BJ...sounds like they bite right through layers of OFF!
Ellyana's 1st trip to the dentist, she was a "champ"...we knew what we were going to hear...she needs to stop taking her bottle...bummer, this girl LOVES her ba-ba...we are down to 2 a day...you should be impressed!
The kids & I have gotten through several books this summer...we are loving our 1st read of Stuart Little!
Helped out with a Christian picnic reaching out to Internationals...lots of International students just getting here to the States...always amazed at the opportunity & openess of these people who will go back to be the leaders in their countries...what a mission field the Lord brings to us!
Yes, the sign reads ages 4-8, they said it was fine for Ellyana to go on the Kiddie Karts even though she isn't even 3...she was such a good driver (minus the "50" near-misses, at first I was cringing...then I realized she kept managing to avoid diaster...it was the hardest we've laughed in a long time!)
She was the lighest weight one on the track...so her car FLEW!
Mini-golf...always a family fav
The end of our day at the Zoo...at some point I'll realize their legs cant' carry them that far...and I'll bring the double stroller
Our picnic & feeding the peacock
And a special treat of seeing the 3D 4D Dora movie, it was really cool!
And here's Zach with his new teacher at his Kindergarten Round-up...he's excited...he said he already made 2 or 10 friends on his 1/2 day of school...Zach has the gift of "friendship" and it is neat to see him in a place for him to be loved & learn & grow another year!
Tuesday AM we hit the ground running, our life won't be the same till mid-June. God has proven Himself faithful & we trust Him again for this year!
The 3rd graders in our town got to participate in our town's Old-Fashion type Festival. They had a lot of neat activities for the 3rd graders during the day & BJ & I walked in the parade in the evening. It was an amazing "step-back" in time. I had figured if BJ dressed up, the other 2 would want to also...these kids love any chance to be in costume :)
The boys both got to go by themselves with Mom for ice-cream as school started...I didn't have my camera for Zach & I's date...but it was delicious.
And here we are at BJ's Classroom Open House...he looks quite comfortable...he gets his same teacher as last year...so we are so very thankful for that! Zach's year is going so well too...only the little Sister is having the roughest time adjusting...where did all the action go? and the comic relief!?!! She'll get the hang of it...but she is VERY happy to see the boys each time at "pick-up"...where are "my boys" she keeps asking!
So much good time with Grandpa & Grandma!
An August birthday celebration!
Getting to ride "Jeeps" any chance they had and swimming in any other spare moment...in some of the most beautiful days of the summer!
The boys had been dreaming of "playing golf" so they got in a little time at the Driving Range before Brian left for his few days at a work conference.
And the last morning, I got to go to the hospital with my sister while this little guy got "tubes in his ears"...yes, he won over all the nurses with his darling-ness!
How does it happen that a baby with one of the roughest starts radiates great JOY wherever he goes? Does that kinda thing come through the hard times or through knowing so many people have prayed for you & God has answered...He has a special plan for your life!
How does it happen that proud as can be parents the day of his birth stand today so humbled and amazed at God's amazing work through BJ's life? What a priviledge to share with others about our "miracle baby"!
This is just the morning, note left with the elaborate sketch I was to depict on the cake...the knock-knock joke book, notes left for us under our door that he was up & ready to see his cake. He LOVES his Playmobile, Legos & every sport! He's loving to swim, is a great help and plays so nice with his brother & sister!
Part of a great vacation is getting to try new restaurants...Bubba's in Traverse City was just as great as Trip Advisor said...
We crossed over the bridge just to say we had been to the U.P....here it is looking back on the bridge.
Waiting for the Mackinaw City Laser light show, we left just a few minutes into it...but the Elephant Ear was worth the wait! 
We had a fun day on Mackinac Island (maybe needed the double stroller)...but it was amazingly beautiful and peaceful to be there. We had read a book from the library about the Island, so it was really fun to see it "for real life".
