Back from camp and all grown up

Got Riley back from camp safe and sound. She had a BLAST. They swam (lake and pool), rode wave runners, and canoed/kayaked. She rode go-karts, bumper cars, rode horses and a jillion other activities.
After hearing about everything they packed in for those 5 days I asked her, "well, did you get homesick at all, do you know what that means...did you miss home?" Not a second passed and she says, "No. Didn't think about you at all." Then she follows it up with..."I was just too busy." Well good, I'm glad for that. (Then she spent the next 2 days being super snuggly).
My girl is fearless and independent, from day one she came out of the womb holding her head up. I'm really grateful that she's that way, she's not going to let anyone walk all over her.
I do wonder what the world holds for her...that is, if it survives beyond Dec. 21, 2012 ;)

Living in Fast Forward

Literally feel like we've had the fast forward button stuck down lately.

Today we put Riley on a bus to attend our Church Camp for 5 days/4 nights.

I know she's going to have a blast and she's had no fear or concerns about camp at all. The girl is fearless...her name means brave/valiant and she certainly lives up to it. I held it together til we got back in the car to drive away. Had to drive back to get one last goodbye in. I'm still getting weepy just writing this...what is wrong with me?

Yesterday wrapped up a very LOOOONG t-ball schedule. Everytime we think we're done, another tournament pops up.

Cade has had a very decorated season. Everyone gets a trophy just for participating. We won first place in our league, so each kid won a medal. Because we won our league tournament we got asked to play in the all-city tournament which we got 2nd place last night (another bigger trophy) and a patch in recognition. Sheesh. We're going to have to build a room just to hold all the kid's awards.

School ended a few weeks ago, here are most of the kids from our bus stop (minus a few). Really gonna miss this.

Sometimes my bus stop moms are the only adults I get to talk to during the day (twice a day at that). We all watch out for the others and will grab the kids off the bus and stay with them til their mom can get to them. Plus the kids look out for each other. Whether it's bullies or falling asleep on the bus they all stand up for each other and make sure the bus doesn't leave without everyone on or off.

We've managed to squeeze in a little summer fun. Kinda feel bad for the kids that get to the park after us...there's no swings left when the Clarks are at the park. J.P. LOVES the swing! What he does not love - is to be held still, now that he's mobile. Totally love his "other" dimpled cheeks. Why is this so delicious on him but not so much on a mom of 4 kids? Speedy (our turtle for a day). The kids and I found him during our early morning bike ride and brought him home. We thought about keeping him. But I found him out of the basket, upside down at one point during the day...and I figured if he doesn't want to live with us so much that he's trying to commit suicide we should probably set him free.

The kids and I went to St. Louis for 10 days. We were there mainly to house hunt, but we got a little friend and family time in too! We got to meet our newest niece Violet (who is just precious)...I'm not sure I heard her cry at all. I had planned my 15 year reunion over that trip and that was an absolute blast. Much (MUCH) better turn out than I even expected! Although I think us girls decided we like calling it the '3rd Anniversary of our 5 year reunion', better.

Of course it's not summer without a little mischief. I included pictures of all the other little ones so I figured I'd share my sweet little angel Brooke. How could this one ever get in trouble? Hmmm... This is what my lovely angel of a child, Brooke, did to my mom's back door. She threw a rock and busted out the glass. In her defense, she wasn't trying to hit the glass...she was trying to hit her brother.