Beach Bound....

 Labor Day weekend we headed to Port A with Mom, Mary and the kids. It was a little bit hectic getting down there! The end of a long first week and not much time to organize or pack...but we made it! We stayed in this neat house that had a small private pool with a "play" area underneath the house and came with a golf cart. We rented a second golf cart so we could fit everyone. 

As usual...we had to hit our favorite store! 

 

 We went crab hunting both nights, but the second night was the best!! We caught a bunch. AND....Sophia caught this monster. We'd never seen one like this before. 

 

  The boys found a ton of fun hermit crabs in shells in the water. Lots of big ones that we've never found before. Later they "relocated" the crabs to other places and kept the shells!

Overall it was a super fun weekend. It might be a little crazy getting ready to head south, but once we are there, it's always worth it!!!

End of Summer....Beginning of School!!!!

 The group of Northwood kids had an end of summer pool party the day before school. So hard to believe these kids are going to be freshman!!! They've been together since Kindergarten. It's such a great group of kids!!!!

And then the first day of school came.....

No group picture before school. This is our one year of 3 schools. 3 start times, 3 dismissal times....and a whole lot of Mom trying to juggle it all!!!!! 

It's our last year at Northwood. Joshua got the teacher we hoped for...March Hildebrand (that Jake and Sophia both had). We love her! 

Sophia was up and agreed to a picture with Sophia. :) Our 5th and 7th grader!!!

 

This was all I got from the 9th grader! 

And we took at quick pic as he and Jonah walked into Mac for the first time. It seems SO big!!! I am worried and excited for him at the same time. He seems fine with making the jump to highschool! 

It's always a big sigh of relief to get them all out the door on the first day. And then I get to wonder all day how they are doing...and hope for a good report when I pick them up!

Happy Birthday Joshua!!!

Hard to believe that Joshua is turning 10!!! Time has flown by!!! We celebrated his birthday a bit early by taking 2 friends and Jake to Splashtown for the day. The boys had a blast!!!

And then we came home for cake #1!

 

His real birthday was the day before school started. We had special donuts from a place that will do letters...so I had them spell out "double digits".  

We had the family over for another birthday celebration. Mike smoked a bunch of meat and it was SO good!!! 

 

 Cake #2.....

Mary gave Joshua a maze game that the boys loved!!!

 

10 years have flown by since that Tuesday when Joshua arrived early and gave us a little bit of a scare. Joshua you are growing up to be such a caring, thoughtful, smart and funny young man. I love watching you and Dad talk about ALL things hunting. Maybe this season you will get your first deer!!! We love you so much and you bring so much joy to our family. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for you!