The Picture Post

So, we've been keeping busy. VERY BUSY. Hence the lack of posts! Here are a few pics of some of the things that have kept us running around like crazy happily busy!

In May Camden and I finished up our first year of traditional homeschooling. I could not be happier with our choice to go this route. Camden did excellent and placed in the upper 90% on his end of the school year testing. Not to sound too proud, but I must say Mike and I both were very proud. I'm looking forward to this coming school year. I've already started gathering curriculum and I can't wait to have it all together and begin lesson planning. Though Merci is just 3 days from the cut off to be eligible for Kindergarten this year, she's not quite ready. So we will focus this year on the area that she needs work so that she is all ready for next year.

Spring time and early summer meant baseball, baseball, and more baseball. We were

out at the ball field an average of 3 times a week.  Camden's team did great this year

and we were so proud of the strides that Camden 

made from T-ball last year to baseball this year.

After his last game of the season we invited everyone who was
able to attend to join us back at our

house for an ice cream sundae party. The kids all had a blast and it
was a great way to celebrate the season.

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Merci participated in her first year of gymnastics this year. She absolutely loved it! 

It was great way for her to get out all of the energy seems to carry!

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Of course it would not be summer without our fires!  Though recently it's been
way to hot in the evenings for a fire, I have still done several this season.
And there's nothing better than a fire under 

a starry, moonlit sky!
(I was so excited to finally get a good full moon shot!)

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Late in the spring Camden and I got to live out a dream of both of ours by getting to go to
Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers!
We spent the entire day with my brother-in-law and nephew
who are also bigSteelers fans. We got to do all kinds of fun stuff
including seeing past players, touring the locker room,
trying on our favorite players real jersey, and Camden
got to drills out on the field where his favorite team plays! 

It was a day of great memories and we both had a blast!

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 The monkeys again took swim lessons at our local pool this year.
I was so excited because several of

their friends were also taking lesson and all but
one of them joined them in the same class.

I just love this photo of the kiddos and their friends!

 This year we broke down and bought a 3 ft by 12 ft pool
for the kids to swim in at home. It's not

quite big enough for us big kids to swim in but it's
big enough to cool off. The kids have had blast

and so has their daddy!
With the temps we've had lately, we are ALL enjoying the pool!

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 The kids had the chance to go to VBS this year at a church
just around the corner from us.  It was such a great experience all around.
They got to go have fun every day for 3 hours
(giving Mommy a nice little break) and ended the week
with their program and family carnival. It was such a blessing!

Merci loved all the bounce-arounds!
This was her peaking her head out 

of the bottom of the giant fire truck slide.

 And you can't have a carnival without face painting!

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 Mike and I recently had the opportunity to join dear friends
of ours at a Cleveland Indians game! It was spectacular!!
We had box seats that included
all you can eat food in the lounge!
We felt like something special having passes
to the exclusive area, to eat like pigs kings, and enjoy a great game.

 I think we all agreed that even though it was
fun to watch the game, it was much more fun 

just getting the time together!
We had such a blast and look forward to
joining them again soon

as we have tickets to see our local
minor league team together!

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And of course it's not summer without the 4th of July celebrations!

Well, this was just a glimpse into some of what has been keeping us so busy. There have been birthday parties, photo shoots, picnics, play dates, and much, much more. I'm thankful for having a great summer so far!  I hope you have been enjoying your summer as well!  Until next time friends...TTFN