Pumpkin Carving - 2024

We never know what the weather is going to be like at the end of October here in Michigan.  Some years, the snow has already started to fly and we end up carving our pumpkins either inside the house or in the heated garage.  Other years, like this one, we are able to carve outside on the deck with minimal layers of clothing on.

This tablecloth has been around for a couple of years and has really seen better days.

All ready to go!

The kids all chose some pretty big (and thick!) pumpkins so I kept my expectations low on how the carving would go.

Somehow, Sam is the one that worries me the most with a knife, so I stood close by her side for most of the carving.  Ha!

Sophia is the most detail-oriented -- and serious -- during her cutting and design.

A tad dramatic.

Looking back at the picture, I remember now that he had that name tag on his sweatshirt because it was originally on his pumpkin to claim it as his.

Still in process.

A little less serious.  

As a side note: Sophia is about 3 months into her ~2 year journey to straighten her teeth.  We opted to go with the clear/removeable trays (rather than metal braces) and have been happy with the process so far.  She rarely smiles with her teeth though when she is wearing them.

The final masterpieces:

A cat, to complement our cat, Mia:

Using toothpicks for spindle-like teeth:

An upside-down hanging bat:

September Randoms

The start of the school year is racing along with all of the activities.  Each of the kids is involved in some sort of extracurricular activity: 

Samantha is doing marching band and still working at the local winery.  She also attended homecoming this month with friends.

She registered for a new class at the high school: art.  She has always been interested in it, but her previous schedule did not allow for it and with the teacher's permission, she was able to take it.  I have been so impressed with the projects that she has done already including this one done in paint:

Sophia is taking three dance classes (ballet, tap and hip hop) and began working as an assistant teacher for the first time this Fall.  This is a paid position and while she only assists with one class per week, she loves it.  She is also continuing in both concert and jazz band and has become a real leader in her trumpet section.

Another special thing: the girls and I went together to get our 'doubles' pierced.  I promised that I would go with them and we made a special evening of this by going to dinner and then getting our ears pierced together.

Jack is enjoying Middle School and the extra freedom that comes with choosing his 'flex classes' and having varied teachers.  

He is playing tackle football again this Fall and while it means tough practices, he loves being with his friends and perfecting his skills.

He also joined the Middle School band and chose to follow in the footsteps of his sisters by playing the trumpet.  Steve took him to pick one out and he has quickly learned to play a few songs already.

James is also playing tackle football this Fall for the first time.  Like his brother, he really seems to enjoy it and we have been fortunate enough to not have too many games that overlap this Fall for the boys where we have to 'divide and conquer.'

As he progresses through the Elementary School, I am savoring these last few years.  We have had kids in that school consistently for the last 11 years and I know that I am going to miss so many of the teachers and classrooms once our last little one enters Middle School.

In his spare time, he has mastered chipmunk hunting in the woods.  He is so patient and we are amazed at this tally for the summer and early Fall.

Turtle Races

On Labor Day Weekend, went as a family to the 'Turtle Races' held on a private lake in Fenton.  A neighbor had invited us and we had no idea what a big annual event this was for the people that live there.  Turtles are caught and allowed to (humanely) race in a bracket-style event with prizes given out at the end.  

It's amazing to watch because some of the turtles just remain stationary, while others race right outside of the circle.

There are also lots of games, food and a cake decorating contest.  

Of course, when the kids heard that there was a cake decorating contest, they encouraged me to enter.

I ended up winning the blue ribbon in the adult category.

And the best part for Jimmy?  He got to sample any of the cakes after they were judged!

First Day of School - 2024

The first day of school was on August 22nd and while we hate to see the end of summer come so early, we also know that we will still be able to enjoy the longer days and warm weekends on the lake.

With Jack in Middle School now, he had to be up earlier than usual to ride on the first bus route that picks up high schoolers and middle schoolers a little before 7 am.

6th grade, 11 years old:

8th grade, 13 years old:

11th grade, almost 16 years old:

Obligatory group photos:

My little "stair-step height" group:

Taken just as the bus was ready to pick them up:

Starting next week, Sam will catch a ride with her dad for zero hour jazz band (leaving our house by 6:30 am each day), but I was secretly happy to see her still ride the bus with her siblings on the first day of school.

This young man was able to sleep in a bit for his first day of school because his bus does not pick him up until about 7:50 am each day.

3rd grade, 8 years old:

I wondered if Jimmy would be a little disappointed to not have his brother on the bus with him this year, but he seems to be doing just fine.

For the first time, I only have one kiddo left in the elementary school and that makes me a little sad but I also know that James is enjoying having the school 'all to himself' for the first time ever.

End of Summer Randoms

Summer at the lake!

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Slime has been banned from my house for a long time now, but I don't mind the girls making it and playing with it outside.

I'm not sure why Sam is wearing an actual garbage bag in this picture, but I suspect that it has something to do with just how messy slime can be!

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It's corn season in Michigan!

Also noteworthy is the nice pile of wood that Steve and the boys have been collecting, splitting and stacking for the upcoming winter.

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Jack has had a pretty lucrative lawn mowing business this summer with about 7 customers that he continued to regularly mowed their lawns for them.  A week ago, he let Jimmy try out the lawn mower in our front yard.  

He is a few years away from being able to operate it by himself, but he soon got the hang of it.

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A bonfire in the driveway with s'mores!

And more wood piled up, drying out, just waiting to be stacked out on the back patio.

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The end of an era ... after years of having the playscape in the back yard (inherited from neighbors across the street), it was time to take it apart and donate it to another neighbor.

It was a bit of work to dig it out, but the boys worked on it together and made great progress.

After they got it all dug out, they helped transport it down the road and then filled in the area with grass seed.  It seems to strange to me to look out the kitchen window and NOT see it anymore ...

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4th of July - 2024

While not all of the kids want to participate by riding their bikes in the annual 4th of July parade in our subdivision, I love that they still dress up in patriotic colors for all of the festivities that the day will bring.

Just two sisters hanging out by our decorated golf cart ...

The boys added some minimalistic decorations to their bikes and prepared to set out to join in the parade that morning.

The boys went left on their bikes and the girls and I took the golf cart.

Just prior to this, we were down at the park to watch as Jimmy earned a medal for his fish that he entered into the annual bass fishing competition.  Jack and Steve both entered fish but narrowly missed the cutoff for weight in order to place with a medal in their respective divisions.

These three are pretty much inseparable.

While the games were taking place, I hung out with friends under the shade of our pop-up tent.  Note to self: make sure to bring that again next year.  

At one point, I looked up and saw these two riding in on the 4-wheeler with matching captain hats, sunglasses, a pipe ... and the best part -- matching tattoos.  Everyone had a good laugh over that sight!

And what could make 4th of July any better?  A sweet and salty snack mix with red/white and blue M&Ms, of course!