Down, Set, Hut

Cam decided he wanted to sign up for football camp this summer. This was after many other opportunities had been offered: invention camp, art camp, swim team, baseball....

He was excited to go the first day. As usual, his nervous tick was asking a zillion questions and needing to know approximate times for activities; the main one -pickup by us. He was a sweaty, tired boy after the first day. He didn't have too much to say about it, but from what we gathered his initial thoughts of camp were equated to Disney World. Now, after the first day, camp football had been taken down a few notches. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about working hard for 4 hours a day for the next 4 days. 

He toughed it out the rest of the week, although he tried his best to break a leg, catch a cold, or claim he needed a day off. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't try to make a deal about being picked up early. 

But he did it. From day one to day five, he stuck it out and made the most of his summer moment of insanity. He asked one of the days, "Remind me again why I decided to do football camp."

And, after all of this- by far the longest week of the summer- he wanted to sign up for the pee wee league this fall. This is football in full pads and helmets. We are hoping he doesn't have the same feelings for it as he did his camp experience.

Atleast we know he will enjoy the dressing up

part of the game!

#beachbound

Don't hate. We enjoyed the beach for two weeks. Some may say this is too long, but for us, it has been just right. We get enough sand and salt to last us the whole year through. I wish I could bottle up some of my idleness and use it at other super busy moments throughout  the year. 

Our first week was at our second home, Amelia Island. Moo and Doo treat us to this trip each year as our Christmas present. We almost have Christmas in July. We love hitting our same spots for food and shopping and relaxing on the beautiful shores. It recharges us and makes us realize just how fast each year passes.

We sadly left the AI and trekked across Florida's pan handle to meet up with our bffs in Gulf Shores. The pace of that week was a bit different. Although we have been to the beach many times with the Meelers, we have never been with just them alone. As if the four children between us wasn't proof enough, being just the eight of us definitely made us feel grown up. We made our own schedules or not, experimented with some new recipes and decided that cooking together was definitely the way to go, and watched our little ones enjoy each others' imaginations.

Until next time ocean, sand, and breeze- 

We Mustache You a Question...

Could you possibly love summer as much as us? 

We have had some pretty fun days and some other just ordinary ones that have filled our time. Being the mom of a seven and four year old is pretty sweet. Cam has worked hard on some "chores" like watering plants, taking out the recycles, and reading and math. He has earned a special treat already. Maeve has just become more and more self sufficient. We love to catch her pretending. Just the other day she asked me to babysit for her babies while she went to Ducktown, Tennessee! 

Puzzle time

Watermelon

Dressed like Layla 

Cruising in the jeep

Cam the catcher

Crazy hair at VBS

Maeve's family portrait

Poolside picnic

Menchies with a little friend

The perfect reminder to count our blessings, big and small!

El Fin

The end of the school year. Goodbye 3 day threes and first grade...there is now a summer between this and the next milestones.

First Stop- The Lake

Sugy Island had shrunk this year because the lake was so full! Moo and Doo and their four Grands filled up the camper for some lake fun- brownies, playgrounds, boatrides, and memories. Thanks for the great start to summer!

Patch

A yearly tradition almost slipped by. This was actually my first day of summer. Making it sweet!

Disney on Ice

An adventure for all on a school night, but one that was well worth the extra effort.  Maeve and I, along with our favorite girls - Hillary, Chloe, Anna Belle, Becca, and Brenna- went to see Disney on Ice.  This was something none of us had ever been to.  The girls loved the special night and seeing many of their favorite characters perform.  Disney in any form never disappoints.