We Did It!

After two months of training, today we all ran our first 5K. Very exciting, and I was just so darn proud of all of us. Our times were not the greatest, but not a single one of us stopped to walk. I completed right under 35 minutes, Ike and Ava were right behind with 37, and Brant, Paige, and Claire were a clip under 40. Brant promised to be the last Hamby, to make sure our kids didn't get lost on the downtown streets. It was a great memory, and we can't wait to plan our next one.

Claire and Paige had the best evening. Our neighbor offered to take them up in his two-seater plane as part of the EAA's Young Eagles program. They participated in a full flight inspection and then were given a 20 minute plane ride. They buzzed by our neighborhood and by their elementary school. They even "helped" steer at one point. Mr. C. took the time to answer any questions they had (and there were quiet a few). He explained how all the equipment worked and let them help roll the plain onto the runway. It was a day they will never forget.

How I Spent My Summer

Well, half of it any way. We were so busy during the actual season , that I didn't get any pictures of the kids in their uniforms. So, here we are six weeks later and getting it done. That's life around here.

I found it crazy that all the kids had red in their uniforms. That never happens. Don't you love the pink cleats with the red uniforms? We don't have any "formal" fall sports (so far). I can't tell you how much we are loving the breathing room in the schedule.

Last First Day of Elementary

For the first time ever, everyone was excited about their classroom. This is Paige and Claire's last first day of elementary school. Where did they all go? I'm a mix of excitement and nervousness about their fifth grade year.

Claire received her number one teacher pick, PLUS her best friend is in her class. Could the year look any better?

Paige is in the class she wanted, and two certain boys that bring on Hamby girl giggle fits are in her room. Hmmm, her year seems to off to a good start also.

Ava got the teacher she wanted. The reason she wanted her, and I quote, "She's pretty and she wears high heel boots." Good enough reason, and I think I'll go to her parent teacher conferences instead of Dad (yeah, pretty sure about that).

Isaak didn't care what teacher he got, as long as his best buddy Cooper was in his class, so he is super jazzed. I already informed his teacher of their b.f.f. status and warned her not to sit them by one another. Boys will be boys.

Summer of Saving

I promised the kids at the beginning of the summer, that if they saved the money, sure, they could have a trampoline. It sounded like pipe dream. Four kids under the age of ten saving up nearly three hundred dollars?! Well, it's funny what kids will do when motivated. They walked dogs, cleaned sticks up after storms, past out flyers, etc. Basically, any chore a neighbor or mom would offer, they took.

We made a deal on vacation that what we saved out of the budget, we automatically go straight to the trampoline. We discussed picnics versus fast food, and amazingly (wink, wink), we had just enough money saved for a trampoline. We've been jumping it up for a week. Even Brant and I have tested out the bounce. Love the sweaty, sleepy kids this gem creates.

Michigan Vacation

We headed out for a five-day vacation in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region of Michigan. It was so beautiful. The lake was so clear. You could walk out for about a half mile and still only be up to your chest. I like the fact that you could see your feet (not a huge swimmer in mucky water). We canoed, which will go down as the "Claire-hates-canoeing trip". She was bit grumpy about following directions (hmmm - where does she get that from?). We hiked the Sleeping Bear Dunes. See this picture -- that is just the first crest of the dunes. It goes on and on, up and up after that. Who knew walking uphill in sand for over an could be so exhausting? We all slept like babies that night.

A quick stop at South Haven on the way home to see the lighthouse. The kids thought it would be bigger. This isn't Maine, ya' know?

AND, back to reality. How do six people make so much stinky laundry? Poor me.

Roadkill Rescue

Before: Brant and I found these lockers on the way home from one of many softball games this summer. They were just sitting on the road waiting for the trash man. I could not allow this travesty. After shaming my husband into pulling over and helping me smuggle these big boys into the back of our mini, these then sat in the garage for about a month. Well . . .

AFTER: A thorough scrubbing and about $12 dollars in spray paint brought forth these awesome babies. They work great in Brant's Bear Cave and also work great for hiding a lot of our junk.