Time out from school prep and work schedules...

 Ashlynn...our Senior...was having fun with a new backpack look for this year.  "MOM...it wouldn't even hold two of my books and stuff!"

 Teddy...found what he wanted, got food, and sat and waited for us.  The girls got their ears pierced again today...Mom had to go along for the signature.

 It was a quick outing...but fun! These kiddos have grown up too fast!  "Short kids in the front!"  Umm...Mom, your arms aren't long enough for us to do a selfie then.  We need to get you a selfie stick!

Verrrrrry funny!

The guys only trip down the Huron River

 Ted and Teddy planned an overnight kayaking trip with Noe and his sons.  The weather was not all that great...hot and humid with threat of rain all day....but the boys were so excited!  They crammed all their gear in the kayaks.  We shoved the food stuff between the side walls and seat to fill up the opposite ends.

 Ted gave some directions how to carry and they were off...after double checking everything.  I think the boys were vibrating with excitement!

 The dads...hoping that no-one would tip and get stuff wet!  Teddy ready to help.

 Some more directions and they were off for the night.  2 1/2 hours of paddling to the island, setting up the tent, campfire for hot dogs and smores, sleeping in a sleeping bag (one boy got his wet somehow), pit toilet/woods, breakfast, and paddling 1 1/2 more hours till the pick up point.

Everyone was smiling when I got there to pick them up!  Tired...but successful!  Another round of simple American firsts for these friends.  Thank you, Lord, once again for Ted's idea that touched lives.

We had a mini-celebration...for our 20 years

 that made Ted laugh.  He asked me what I wanted for dinner...Panda Express!  It was fresh and hot and yummy.  We laughed about our "fortunes".  What has 20 years taught us?  Be grateful for every day that God gives you together and enjoy the simple things in life!  It is kind of unbelievable...here we are on a date...while all three children are working long hours at the local ice cream place.

We didn't even go out for ice cream...we were too full of Chinese food (that really isn't Chinese food...according to the world traveler!)

The good ole' summertime

 Coffee on the deck

Dates with Teddy after his Segment 2 driving class.

 Dates with my love

 Late night treats from my three loves

 Dog sitting for Lollie...and Mommy sharing for Velle.

A fuzzy little companion...no matter where I sit and when I sit!
Little things to be thankful for as I look back over the last couple months of summer break.  Soon...life will change again as school begins!

Our handy guys!

 In about three hours...they built a queen size bed frame for Teddy's room!  It is cool to see them enjoy time together working on projects!  Learning lifetime skills from his dad...I hope he realizes the value of them...cause they are passed down from his grandpa and great-grandpa!

A day out with my sis

We first had to drop off a very shaggy dog.

 Then lunch and coffee at The Proving Grounds in Milford!  A fun place for sister time...till the smoke from the roasting room decided for us that it was time to leave...too late...we smelled like burnt coffee!

 Then we visited the shops downtown...something I have not done since we moved here! Why?!?!  It was a perfect day for walking around town.  Turns out...the smoke from the roasting room wasn't an "Oops, I forgot I had beans roasting!"  Black smoke was billowing out of the coffee shop by the time we walked out of the first shop...fire trucks and the whole bit!  You can see our red van...blocked in by the trucks.  "Guess we get to shop for a good, long while!"

 Love meandering about the shops and talking and giggling with my sis.  We don't get our sister trip again this year...so this afternoon was the next best thing...with the added excitement at the coffee shop!

 We were finally able to sneak our van out of the fire truck line up and go pick up Velle.  Lesson learned...make her next appointment before leaving the groomer so we don't have to wait a month and a half from when we call!  She is so soft and cuddly...cause she isn't hot now!

She liked curling up on Aunt Mari's lap for the ride home to play with Lollie!

Mom's Pet Peeves

 Girls and a boy...who leave their stuff EVERYWHERE (see the hair tie?) even after countless talks about putting things away!

 Toilet paper NEVER put on the roller...I can't walk by their bathroom without fixing it!

Little tiny ants that want to hang out in my kitchen!

 Clothes ALWAYS on the floor or in baskets...the closets and shelves they have are empty.

 Towels not hung up to dry!

No one noticing that the garbage is full...it is not just the boy's job!

BUT THEN...I need to stop...and be thankful for the time at home during the summer to notice and take care of it myself.  These teenagers are in and out so quickly with their working schedules...if I am fair...they do stop occasionally and get caught up on some of the chores at home when it really counts.  I dropped off a sandwich for Teddy as he worked yesterday and was told by one of the managers, "I love your kids.  Your kids are great!  I appreciate their hard work and attitudes."  And that stopped me...just chill out!  These three chair fillers at our house know what to do, how to do, when to do...and where to do that it really matters right now.  It has been fun to watch them continue to grow this summer!  "The days are long but the years are short..."is proving to hit me in the throat these days.  This year starts the beginning of three consecutive Senior years!

 Another pet peeve...When my mind doesn't compute that "sparkling" means "under pressure" and don't open while driving in the car!  My pet peeves only affect me negatively...and cloud how I see the growth of our children.  Clearly, I have my own set of issues to work on!

The student became the teacher

 Ted taught Ashlynn some tips for parallel parking and backing up.  

 She took her driving test and passed. 

She has been driving...and even though it was nerve-wracking to let her go those first couple times...it is a huge blessing to have another driver!

 Alisa is next!  It was fun to see the sisters work together...and at one point...big sister had to walk away.

Update:  Alisa passed her driving test!

It is officially on its way...her first driver's license!  Now I have two errand runners!

The last day of July...means school is just around the corner!

Which my humans are starting to leave and go here or there.  Teddy is getting ready for soccer preseason.  Momma is working in her new room.  The girls are still working daycare every day.

After 6 years...

I finally waded through the rest of the boxes that were moved from our storage unit to our garage.  I found all sorts of interesting things...like missing washcloths, hand towels, and sheets that we used to wrap stuff in when we packed up our IL house!  We have started going through boxes of pictures in preparation of three Senior years in a row.  I didn't realize that I had still had our box of wedding cards!  I looked at each one and soon realized how things have changed in people's lives over the last twenty years.  There are still three buckets to go through...but I am finding I need to space it out...it is emotional reliving the growing up years!

We love company!

 Funny enough...most of our pictures are of Little Miss Kitty!  We had fun with Ken and Jen too!