What we do on summer vacation

Yay! For summer vacation.

We love this time of year because one of the great perks of Mikes job is that he travels. Ok will let me rephrase that. We get to travel with him when he travels during the summer when the kids are out of school. And the company pays for it.

And yes that is a picture of Asher doing cart wheels across the beach flicking sand everywhere. Being the acrobat he is he cant even seem to walk across the sand like everyone else.

a couple of weeks ago we went to Myrtle Beach Sc. for 4 days. While Mike is working during the day the kids and I get to do all the fun stuff like Magi Quest, that is one of their FAVORITE things to do when in Myrtle Beach. They would do it everyday if I let them. We did do it 2 days that week though. It's actually pretty neat. They have magic wands that activate things in the room and saves their game. They are given a quest in the beginning by a computer and then run around this two story building set in the midevel times. It's kinda like a scavenger hunt. Or we will go shopping, to the aquarium, or just lounge on the beach making sand castles, playing in the waves and praying that there are no hungary sharks that day. And then Mike meets up with us in the evening. We usually go to dinner, or swim in the pool. This time he was able to spend a day with us on the beach before heading back home. That was a great treat.

This is the first year that Reagan has been willing to get in the water. Which means mom was able to get in the water. She really enjoyed the waves except when the saltwater would get in her mouth or eyes.

Next week we will be going to Columbia Sc. , Spartanburg Sc , where one of my good friends live so I will be able to visit with her, and then to the beach in Wilmington Nc.

Fourth of July

For our Fourth of July we went to our neighbors house (the Muhlesteins) with the missionaries. It was a BLAST literally!

Of course, boys being boys thought the sparklers were swords. We had to remind them several times that someone would end up with a spark in the eye.

We made foil dinners in the fire pit. They were sooooo yummy! And roasted marshmellows.

And we had enough fireworks to last

a more than 2 hours. The kids were sooooo excited. Although the state of North Carolina has a law that no fireworks that shoot in the air are allowed. Lots of people here just

drive to the South Carolina line and buy them there. But if you were caught shooting them in NC you would have a $5000 fine and 25 days in jail. So being the chickens we are had NO fireworks going in the air except for the ones that were thrown. Mike and I both being from Missouri where anything goes. Well being fireworks that is. And, really I guess, almost everything else. We REALLY miss the fireworks.

But the following Sunday we had a few families over from church and they brought the GOOD fireworks from S0uth Carolina. Although they were shot in front of our house so we would have been the ones fined. That's ok they were worth it.

Fathers day weekend

The kids and I had alot of fun with planning Fathers day weekend. We started Saturday off with breakfast and then Mike received his first envelope that contained clues to what would come next in his day. So first we had a massage planned for him. After that he read his next envelope and he had to meet us at a park where they played catch, we had a picnic, played on the playground and skipped rocks into the creek hoping we wouldn't meet up with any copperheads like the last time we had gone there.

He then had his next envelope of clues. We went to the High School Football Field to watch Asher perform his acrobats that he learned while attending Acro Fitness all year and receive his trophy. This kid cant seem to just walk. He's always doing a cartwheel or flip in the middle of just walking across the room. As I'm typing this he's doing hand stands while watching Sponge bob. We were able to get a picture of him practicing on the sidelines but unfortunately the performance was rained out. They wanted him to join the boys team for next year but we decided that we would have to pass on that for now it would require ALOT of time and money. So they put him in the advanced class for next year. He's so excited.

Next was dinner and then a relaxing rest of the night at home so Mike could play World of War craft with his friends.

Then on Sunday he got his last envelope of clues. We surprised him with his favorite dessert, apple pie and ice cream. And then we took him to the top of the hill in our backyard and surprised him with something that he has been saying that he would love to have someday. A TELESCOPE! He was so surprised. We hope that dad knows how much we love and appreciate him.

A/B Honor Roll

Spencer made A/B honor Roll. He is so smart. This picture is at his award Ceremony. He also made perfect attendance except that he missed the day before the ceremony. BUMMER! And best of all he recieved the Presidential award. He had to maintain a 90% or higher grade point average from 4th grade all the way through 6th grade. I have to admit I cried like a baby. Now my little boy is off to Middle school. Where has the time gone?

Ashers first Cub Scout Camp

Asher was so excited. After watching his big brother get to go off and do all the fun things in Cub Scouts it's finally his turn now. This is his first day of Cub Scout Camp. No overnights. Just Day camp. He had to wear this shirt EVERYDAY. Believe me. It was a different color by the end of the week. Archery and getting hosed down by the Fire Engine were his favorite parts. He was very concerned about ticks and had mom check him head to toe every day.

Jazzercised in Parade

Ok, yes I'm CRAZY! I did Jazzercise routines during the parade in Mooresville NC. In Nov. with a sciatic nerve problem. I'm not even sure how I made it. My right leg didn't even want to move. But did it somehow. THE WHOLE WAY. I swear I thought it would never end. Then I had to limp back to the car all the way back at the beginning where the parade had started. The parade was the straw that broke the camels back though. I ended up having to give up Jazzercise and my class manager position for a while while I healed. I'm very glad I did it though. It was great fun!

I'm all better now and back at Jazzercise again and loving it of course!!

First Boyscout Camp

Spencers first Boyscout camp now that he is 12yrs old. He was soooo nervous about EVERYTHING! Taking showers, the other boys, sleeping on a cot. Not doing well in his classes. And most importantly the food. Anyone who knows Spencer knows how picky he is. So he took lots of powerbars, granola bars, juice boxes, bread and peanut butter with him. He called once the second day he was there. His leaders said that would be the only time he would be allowed to call home. He said he was very bored. Didn't sleep very well on the cot. The boys were doing their own things. The food stunk. And his fishing pole broke. His classes would be starting the next day so he hoped things would get better. Everyday his classes were fishing-archery-camping- and then rifle. If that does'nt sound like major boy fun.

Wed. night was famly night. So because we love our son sooooo much we drove 3hrs to go see him. Besides Mike was taking the place of one of the leaders for the rest of the week. I think Mike was more excited about going to camp. Spencer was very relieved that dad was going to be staying with him. It will be great father son bonding time. We got to see his camp and watched skits that the different boyscout troops made up. Asher, Reagan, and I drove back to Asheville to stay in a hotel there and then spent the day with our wonderful friends Marie and her kids. Then another relaxing 2hr drive back home listening to Asher and Reagan fight the whole way.

The arena where the performances took place.