Summer Wrap Up

Before I overload you with pictures of our seemingly amazing summer I want to be clear and honest and call this a HIGHLIGHT REEL.

We did pack in a lot of fun this summer, and the following pictures will show that, but what I didn't show was the hours spent on tablets, or plopped in front of the TV. I don't have pictures of the sibling fights, and I don't have evidence of the bad attitudes and ungratefulness with struggled with this summer. But trust me when I say those things all happened.

Something I've learned over the last few years is that we build real relationships when we are honest with our struggles and shortcomings, and not by appearing to have it all together or have the "perfect kids" so with that said here is the photo dump of our Summer.

Jovie enjoying the bounce house water slide at her preschool friend, Brecken's, birthday party.

Beach night with my crew

Gray doing what he does best!

patio dinners are a summer fave!

a bike ride to stop the bickering :)

enjoying a new favorite smoothie recipe with coconut water, spinach, frozen banana, frozen peaches, peanut butter and oats

so thrilled to be working on their Summer packets from school :)

watching a crazy wind storm!

After cancelling twice for misbehavior, we finally made it to the theater to watch Toy Story 4! Popcorn for everyone!

The crepe king!

nice catch Sadler

yay Gray!

our own Ninja warrior course!

another park to park bike ride!

we all worked up an appetite, including a stop for ice cream afterwards! :)

watching this made me sweaty :)

Grandma's baking buddy!

moments like these remind me how much they've grown up, I remember so well the days of dreading having to haul all the beach equipment myself- they've grown into such big helpers!

photo credit: the 5 year old :)

we were so excited to watch Indian in The Cupboard movie as soon as we finished the book, jus tour luck Netflix took it down the day before we finished, thankfully the local library came to the rescue!

followed by a trip to the ice cream shop!

catching fireflies!

a late night swim

catching a sweet big brother moment, oh how my heart needed that!

A fun week at VBS!

We listened to the audio book of James and the Giant Peach on our way to Florida over Spring Break, so we had to go watch the play!

the actor kids did a great job and the kids loved it!

eat the rainbow! (and ice cream too!)

making all her dreams come true making slime!

day made!

I’d been brainstorming about some kid appropriate service projects that we could add to our summer activities, and this just fell right into my lap (funny how that happens! Sorting clothes at Closet of Hope, a clothing ministry for foster/adoptive families, was the perfect fit! Sadler is already asking when we can do it again.

It melts my heart to see them using their gifts (like climbing) to serve God and the community.

someone's enjoying their Trader Joe's stickers :)

wii snowmobiling with friends!

Ella's turn for a sleepover!

they made an impressive fort!

this is what happens when I watch too many yoga videos on YouTube ;)

working hard at mastering her headstand!

Adoption has brought us so many blessings, including great friends to share in this wonderful journey!! 8 little miracles enjoying the splash pad!

KFC on the channel, making all of Grayden's dreams come true!

a family favorite "Play Nine}

Lion King to celebrate our neighbors birthday!

Robb and I took advantage of a morning alone to go on a bike ride.

I wonder who wore the backpack ;)

Everyone’s excited to hang out in Jovie’s classroom at church before the other preschoolers come!

I take hydration seriously!

sunscreen tic tac toe

nothing beats grilled fresh veggies in the summer!

Fun at the sandbar!

“Elephant and Piggie” play with Grandpa and Grandma L!

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Steadfast love. Fresh mercies. The faithfulness of God.

These are the things we wake up to every single morning. What an incredible gift.

Let’s shake off yesterday's dust, sweet friend. Walk into today with forgiveness, grace, and joy. And make the choice to receive this new day as the gift that it is! -Lysa TerKeurst

thanks for the slurpee treat Grandma R!

"Hanging " at the Hall!

my bathing beauty!

Always the first one in the water!

Grayden was persistent in catching fish with his net!

We had a great day at Millennium Park with the Haights all thanks to Emily for saving the day with snacks :)

what a cute crew!

the boys had an awesome night with Uncle Ryan and Lauren at craigs cruisers for their birthday gift!

my berry cute blueberry pickers!

we all scream for ice cream!

Jovie's special date with Grandma and Grandpa to see Cinderella play!

What a lucky girl!

fro-yo to round off a fun afternoon!

brushing up on our EQ skills with Q's Race to the Top game!

Zeelmania foam pit!

pool party with cousins!

Grabbing some favorites from the farmer's market!

taste test fun!

record size "Balloon babies"

More wisdom from Lysa TerKeurst~

“I'm applying "give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day… or teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime" to parenting.

I don’t want to train my kids to only turn to me for solutions. I want to help them think in Biblically and emotionally healthy ways, so they can learn the fine art of becoming a solution finder. I want to help them learn to process life choices in grounded, mature ways.

If I only tell my kids what they can and can’t do, I’m establishing rules for them to follow. This is a part of parenting for sure- but it can’t be the whole part.

If I teach them how to think, I’m establishing healthy processing patterns that will serve them when they’re no longer under my immediate watch.”

s'more fun at the cottage!

lovin' that lake life!

she gave names to all the fish she caught!

best read of the summer!

An unforgettable tube ride; not because of any high speeds or crazy donuts, but because our topics of conversations ranged from how life would be different if Jesus wasn’t born to wondering if Brenham would have liked ketchup as much as Sadler does!