Monday, June 18, 2018

Edisto 2018 in the books!!!

Such a relaxing and restful week.  The annual beach trip with Chad's family was last week at Edisto.  The boys and I drove down on Saturday.  Hub and Chad came down on Tuesday- Chad because of work, Hub because of... well, 7 kids is a lot for a week. haha!  So, there are not many pics of Chad and Hub.

We went out on the beach every day- most days twice.  I had my first experience doing CrossFit.  Sandee and Tommy are doing the Keto diet and CrossFit so I thought I would give it a go.  (For the record, I did not do the Keto part).  It was actually kind of fun, though I was insanely sore for a few days!

As normal beach posts go, this one is picture overload! 

Most of the pictures are of the oceans and playing outside.  As the kids have gotten older, board games and card games occupy a good bit of the "down" time.  Clue, Hearts, Poker, Rummy were enjoyed by all.  PapaHub fought youtube clips of Ty and Amy's greatest scenes (Heartland) and was a happy camper!  He cracks me up!
The annual group shot

These kids did not have one significant fight the entire week!  I think they were better behaved than the adults!

Cousins- by birth order- ages 3- 12

My crew

Sandee and Tommy with the girls
Hunter -12


Ashton - 10

Shepherd- 8
Bennett - 5

The boys

 I did a selfie with each of them- otherwise there would be no pics of me! 







Hunter did not know I was taking his picture.  He struck this pose because he was actually thinking!
Thanks to Uncle Tommy for teaching Hunter a ton about fishing!

Anxiously waiting on everyone to  get ready to go to the beach

Seriously!  I could squeeze them!

The water crew

Bennett mastered the little waves on the board this year

Such a fun picture.  A panoramic shot of Grandma and Hunter (with Tommy in the middle fishing) playing frisbee.

Heading out to the bigger waves.... of which, it knocked it me down.









Hunter playing dad and pulling Bennett and Sami

A picture from one of my morning walkds

A little bit of Hearts.

Humoring me yet again for a picture
My sweet nieces!





Big and little

Middle two (and Charlee) catching a crab.

Our happy place

Thank you Thank you Thank you Grandma for all your hard work in planning and paying for this vacation. She got up early every morning and cooked a big breakfast, played Clue, Rummy, and Hearts almost every time a kid asked her to, and always does things with a cheerful heart. We love you and Hub!

Also, shout out to my mom and dad for loving on my boy Moses.  It makes it easier to leave knowing he is having his own vacation.

Thursday, May 31, 2018

End of Year Happenings

This spring has a lot of fun.  All 4 boys played soccer- Bennett for the first time and Hunter went back to it after taking over a year off.   We are officially done with school tomorrow.  All 4 boys had their awards days and all 4 had great years academically and socially.

Shepherd and Ashton played on United again, Shep in U8, Ashton in U10.  Shepherd got sooo much better this year.  He scored a handful of goals and just had a better sense of how to move on the field.  Ashton continued to be a rock-star out there.  This league is perfect skill-wise for Shep.  I do wish I could push Ashton a step up. ( Also, this travel stuff is expensive... and not just expensive but over-priced.  I dont mind paying for something that is worth but sometimes I question if we are getting our moneys worth.)  But, the only option for that is Hunter's league out of Dacusville and I didnt love it.  It is fine for Hunter since he is only a year away from playing middle school soccer, but I wouldnt want Ash or Shep playing for them.  Bennett's season was an absolute hot mess.  He was the youngest and smallest and was pretty indifferent to the whole thing.  There was zero positioning and no max for the number of kids that could play at a time.  I just bit my lip and took deep breaths.

Hunter playing some defense.

Bennett, on the ground, fell while trying to get the ball... at least he mad effort.

Shepherd, tall kid in black, scores a goal! 

And, I am a horrible failure of a mom because I didnt get a picture of Ashton playing this year.  It might be because he only had 7 games but whose counting. (
Bennett's first trophy
Hunter's banquet


Chad and I went to prom this year.  It was pretty uneventful.  This prom didnt even have cake.  I mean, come on! 





 Hunter

Hunter earned all A's this year.  I am super proud of him.  I dont think he necessarily worked super hard to earn this but he did what he needed to do.  He was right on the borderline couple times in ELA but kept it up!  I am very proud of him and the year he had.  He had a team of great teachers.  Because his school is actually one of my schools, I got to see him a good deal and formed relationships with the facutly (which always helps)

Hunter took chorus this year.  He is in the middle in blue.
Hunter, Michael, and Landon.  These guys have become some good friends this year

Hunter receiving his all A's award
 Ashton
I got to go on Ashton's 4th grade field trip.  They went to a sports/ team building center.  It was fun.  Ashton's class was an intense one this year.  He also maintained all A's and did absolutely no work.  I hope next year is a bit more challenging for him and he will actually have to work a little to earn his grades. 

Regardless, Ashton, in the course of 1 year, became a leader not only in his class but the school.  He is a social butterfly and competitive as ever.  He has become very good at chess this year thanks to his GT class.  For him, being pulled out once a week for GT was a saving grace for the chaos.  He loved Wednesdays.  I couldnt take many pictures of kids in class because his school receives kids from childrens homes.
Ashton is the left corner in blue 

My buddy on the bus
All A's group.... he also received the "Marvelous Mathematician" for his class.  His teacher said that after testing, he was doing long division for fun on his scratch paper.  
This lady here!  Man, we love Aunt Joan.  She picks the boys up every Tues and Wed.  She was the stand-in grandparent for Awards day for the boys.  (Sami is pictured too since her mom couldnt come as she is out of town) 
Proud of these 2 middles of mine!


Shepherd
And, I also got to go on Shep's field trip.  The boy beside him and behind him are 2 of his good friends this year. 

Silly all the time- the refused to take a serious picture

Shep and me at Table Rock


Dumb phone camera wouldnt focus fast enough... Receiving the best reader award for his class.

 Bennett
He graduated from preschool... and refused to sing.
Bennett with his sweet teachers.  He had such a great experience at Preschool at Holly Springs

His good buddy.  Bennett is small, Choice is big.  haha

And again, Aunt Joan is here!  We love her!
IT IS SUMMER!!!!!!

After Bennett's program.  These boys are so smart and just good kids.  Be brave my boys!