School is Out For Summer

Summer is in full swing...in more ways than one.  If the relaxed morning schedule and the full-time presence of a 5-year-old in the house wasn't indication enough, the 104 reading on our thermometer this afternoon sealed the deal. 
Summer is here...and it is hot...and it is humid.

Clare finished school at First United Methodist on May 23rd.  Here are some highlights from the last few weeks of school.

Mother's Day Tea

Artistic representation of MOM...

Can you pick me out?

Clare with her fabulous teacher, Mrs. White.

Is this the one you guessed?

Spittin' Image

Thrilled to be Clare's Mommy and the subject of her artistic masterpiece.

Clare's school hosted a special banquet at the end of the year.  It was catered by Outback, and all of the teachers served the meal.  It was TOP NOTCH, and it made me sad (for the umpteenth time) that the school doesn't go into higher grades.

The room was decorated like an art gallery with their best creations from the year.

Self-Portrait...

Where is Clare?

Given that she was the only girl in her class, this was a safe guess.

Eight kids...seven boys and our sweet Clare Bear.

Silhouettes

Hmmm...where is she?

This was Clare answering the question, "What was your favorite thing about school?"

"ART"

Clare Ann

May 20th, 2014

5 years and 9 months old.

Clare and I visited her new school this afternoon, and she was uncharacteristically nervous and shy.  The new school is big and unfamiliar, but I think she will do well.  She was most intrigued by the concept of buying lunch at school.  It's hard to believe that TEN WEEKS from today will be Clare's first day of Kindergarten.

May Recap

 May passed with lightning speed.  There were several notable events, dozens of adorable pictures, and absolutely no time to record them on our digital baby book...A.K.A. blog.

Clare and Isaac were invited to an "Ice Cream Meeting" at our local YMCA.  There's a long story behind the concept, but the kids ABSOLUTELY LOVED it.

This was the agenda for the Ice Cream Meeting.

Phil logged a lot of miles during the month of May.  While wrapping up his training for his second marathon (post to come soon), he participated in a local event called "Miles for Moffitt."  He pulled a team together from Busch Gardens, and it was a fun day.

He ran the 8K and did very well.

 He never runs by the kids without giving each of them a high five.

Phil and I are both excited for the day that we will be cheering for the kids as they run past us in a road race.  Not if...WHEN.  :)

Even though I was still unable to run (because of my lingering hamstring tear), I dressed the part and cheered for the best looking runner on the course.

We picked blueberries at the beginning of the month.  The kids loved the picking experience and seemed unphased by the 90+ degree heat and humidity.  Isaac initially wanted to pick all the green berries.  He kept saying, "But green is my favorite color.  I need to pick the green ones." 

 We consumed all ten pounds of berries within a week, and that was with only three of us eating them.  Isaac tried ONE, and only one, and he literally gagged on it.
Free labor from him. ;)

 Clare's school did a train ride for their end-of-the-year field trip.  The event was open for the whole family, so Phil took the big kids. 

 Fun day!

 Phil spent many, many hours on a tree project.  A neighbor hired him to remove this enormous oak tree, and he took on the challenge.

 He had a team of guys helping him, and they now have one removal under their belts.  Here is video of one of the falling limbs.  Multiply that by A LOT and voila...no more tree.

The kids thought it was entertaining to watch the lumberjacks in action.

We now have a lifetime supply of oak, 

so I think that our smoker and bonfire pit will be getting extra use.

 And now, to wrap up this totally random post, I want to add this picture.

 I like this for a number of reasons:

1. It's my dad and me.

2.  My dad is probably the biggest fan of this blog.  I know, without a doubt, that he anxiously awaits updates of how the "Party of Five" are partying.

3. At 6 months old, I am already dressed in Hope College attire.  The same has been true for all three of my munchkins.  I hope the brainwashing has a similar effect.

4. I can see Myles in this picture.  I have the hardest time seeing either Phil or myself in the physical attributes of our kids.  This picture is a slight exception.

That is all for now.