Well, time wins every time

Despite all my hoping that summer would last longer and I could keep Luke with me a little more September 2nd came anyhow.  What a day.  What does a mom do that has taught him everything for 5.5 years and now I am out of a job from 7:30am-3:45pm.  I was so proud as he took this next step today.  I realized all he has become and all he has to learn.  I feel blessed that education is provided and a privilege. 

I started to teach him how to get on and off his backpack, how to get his snack, and how to operate all the clips on his back pack.  I then told him how he could tell me if he wanted more food, less food, different food, or more water while he was at school.  I was then going to go into a list of everything that may make him frustrated and what to do and every question he could ask his teacher and then I realized that he is on his own.  I have to trust what he has learned so far will help him in full day school. 

 Eva was the saddest one today.  She cried for 10 minutes after he left and there was nothing I could do to console her.  She has been asking for him all day.

Firefly

We spent 6 days enjoying the simple life up north.  Everyday we hiked around the lake, biked, ran, and swam at the beach.  We celebrated Jake's fourth birthday Aug 14.  Luke rode his bike up to 5 miles a day on all the beautiful bike trails.  He also started mountain biking on "the bumps" and he made is 12 inch wheels do a lot of work.  Luke did split his lip open when he was sleeping so you may notice that in the photos.  We had a great time with Dave's family.

 Eva's first ice cream cone that cost more than 49 cents and was not vanilla.

 Luke loved helping Uncle Bill with the hydraulic log splitter.

Blue Harbor

We had another great year at Blue Harbor.  Every year the trip becomes more fun because the kids can do more and more.  This was the first year that they actually slept in after staying up late.  Eva enjoyed trying to keep up with the big boys and would laugh as they would wrestle and tickle her.  She proudly announced her presence to them after she was gone by saying, "I'm back boys."  Eva got her toe nails painted by Tricia.  Luke enjoyed scooting along the river, eating out on the balcony, and blowing up rocket balloons.  I loved walking along the beach. 

 Frisbee golf is a family tradition and this year we started with the younger generation.  We only had one injury to my brothers face which made him not be able to chew for the next day.  This course was a shorter and more rugged than we are used to.

The Last Hazen

Sometimes I still feel like I am 18.  I can feel this way because I have been doing some of the same things for the last 15 years.  We have always had a summer trip with my family.  The last 15 years have been at the Hazen Inn in Phelps, WI.  I love being with the same people and doing the same things we enjoy year after year.  We all had a few tears when we left this year since it will be the last.  We had a great time with my cousins and my kids second cousins and my aunts, uncles, brother, and sister.

Kirk and Axel

 Eva napping at the Hazen.

 Bryce and Charlotte, the youngest member of the fam.

 Last 7:30 am morning dip.

 Andrew in the kayak.

 Bennett and Sam jumping at the hot dog roast.