August 2024

Whew, August was a whirlwind!! It was all good things, but it was a lot! We kicked off the month with a youth church conference for Shelby followed by my parents' visit & then less than 36 hours after dropping my parents off at the airport, the school year was officially underway! Both girls are participating in cross country after school every day, Shelby started jazz band for the first time, Hadley started playing the clarinet, Brady celebrated the end of his outdoor soccer season, youth group kicked off at church for the new school year, fall piano lessons began, and the boys took a mini camping trip together. Oh, and Shelby celebrated her birthday a little early with a trip to the fair & a concert {her first concert--Need2Breathe!}. Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it all. 

{Brady tackling a homeschool project: making a map of his bedroom to scale!}

Brady mentioned he wanted to go fishing recently, so off we went to a couple of the lakes on base to give it a whirl! The weather was absolutely fantastic. Derek & the kids had a blast fishing, and I enjoyed watching them & reading. ;)

{Hadley whittling a stick she found}

{We spotted a family of swans swimming down the lake as we were fishing. We also saw a family of bears playing in a field nearby..so fun!}

{making pumpkin bread with Mama!}

{boys' camping trip!!}

{post-camping nap!}

{helping Coach Dada set up for the end-of-the season soccer party...the weather was perfect!}

We are excited for all that September will bring--more fall colors, Shelby's birthday, a new driver in our house {!!!}, and lots of cross country fun! 

First Day of School 2024

It's hard to believe, but we officially have a 3rd grader & two middle schoolers on our hands!

This is the first year our school district has had 6th grade in middle school. Up until this year, our elementary schools were K-6, middle schools were 7/8, and high schools were 9-12. Our district also altered the school start times across all elementary, middle, and high schools. The fact that Hadley could be in middle school and sleep in an extra hour highly influenced her decision to return to public school. Our district tried a staggered start for the first time this year with only 6th/7th & 9th graders starting on the first day to get those new middle and high schoolers adjusted to their new buildings. Then the 8th & 10th-12th graders starting the following day. 

So on August 15th, Hadley had her first day of middle school on her own & totally rocked it!

And Shelby & Brady started the following day. Shelby is loving being the oldest on campus, and Brady & I are thrilled to have another year homeschooling together! 

Shelby is enrolled in Advanced Orchestra again {and also playing the piano for the Jazz Band}, Hadley is joining the Beginner Band, and they are both doing Cross Country together. Brady just wrapped up a season of outdoor soccer, and is eagerly looking forward to basketball starting later this month. He is also taking a homeschool P.E. class this semester.

I love that the girls are getting this year together in middle school. I can still vividly remember having my sister with me for my final year of high school & how joyful it was to experience together. Yesterday Shelby had to miss Cross Country practice for a piano lesson, and Hadley told me she went to find Shelby at her locker before practice & Shelby shared a snack with her before leaving. It was such a simple, small thing, but I love that they get those moments!

 We are looking forward to a great year! 

Summer 2024 Wrap-Up

What an amazing summer we had! From Homer, Alaska to Georgia to Ormond Beach & Magic Kingdom, Brady's 8th birthday, and hosting our friends & family here in Alaska...it was truly a summer to remember! Before I start sharing about the new school year, I had a few more summer pictures/anecdotes to post before the season is officially over!

{Hadley's new spinning wheel courtesy of one of the members of the Eagle River Spinners group she is a part of that meets monthly}

We had family pictures on the most gorgeous evening in Hatchers Pass. It was our first time going there, and we couldn't get over the beauty! We of course stopped for Cold Stone after pictures. ;)

{the drive to Hatchers Pass}

{hiking Mount Baldy on the Fourth of July}

{the girls were planning & creating a "secret sister" chant/handshake they could do together if they saw each other in the halls at school...they had the best time working on this!}

{photo taken by Brady in our backyard}

{back to school haircut for Shelby!}

Fall, here we come!!!