Week 34

Monday, Aug. 17th

The pool suffered the tropical storm, then 4 days without power (no filter running), then we left for the Cape and neglected it for a week.  The combo of those 3 left it looking more like a pond.  Rocco volunteered to brush it.  I caught him singing, dancing, goofing around with the handle.  So cute!

Tuesday, Aug. 18th

We met Andrea and the girls for a quick picnic at the boat house.

Obviously camps were all canceled for the summer, so our youth leaders put on a 3 day "camp" of sorts.  Three evenings from 4-9p with games, worship, and some of the favorite elements of camp like teams, cheers, room checks, etc.  Nathanael said, "It's basically like VBS for teenagers."  But I'm so grateful that our leaders are continually creative in providing ways and opportunities for students to encounter God.  

Nathanael and Trevor attended as students and Maddy and C4 were instrumental as leaders.  C4 also discovered that he has a freakish gift for the balloon and cup game, so there's always that to fall back on!

That left Colombo and I with just the two littles for 3 nights.  Night one, we went mattress shopping!

We ate at DQ and giggled to watch this guy feed his two dogs cones.  I was late with the camera and missed the German Shepherd at his right hand.

Wednesday, Aug. 19th    

The Grand Canyon seven years ago.

Nathanael and I started his search for a new car.

I met Pop to go look at some tractors.  Now that he's retired, he needs a toy and apparently needs to dig some holes!  

Camp/Teen VBS

C4 on drums.

Thursday, Aug. 20th

Big Deal #1-- Back at it bright and early on the car search for Fan...he found the one!

Big Deal #2-- East Catholic has an "above the collar" policy.  Five inches off and still probably pushing our luck.

Rocco could NOT stop giggling when we came across this picture in an old blog post.

Friday, Aug. 21st

Liv and Em spent the morning with us.  I forgot how fun 3 year olds are.  What a treat!  And Liv and Renna make sweet friends.

What's it like to live with boys?

Colombo needed us very quiet for a 20 minute call so I let the girls have my laptop.  This is about when I realized, "Huh.  I bet Em still takes naps."

Saturday, Aug. 22nd

Another round of wiffle ball and swimming with the boys- this time for Levi's (on his dad's shoulders) birthday.  

Eight or eighteen???

Sunday, Aug. 23rd

My Trader Joe's haul.  You can't tell from the picture, but the carnations were the prettiest shade of blush.  

Week 33- Cape Cod

The Cape was a gift, as it always is, but after last year when the big kids weren't able to be there, it made it extra sweet to all be together-just us.  The kids have grown to love it so much and settle right in to the familiar area, the house that works so well for us, the rhythm of coastal vacation, and reconnecting with dear friends there. 

Monday, Aug. 10th

We spent the day between the pool and tennis courts and then our first dinner on the back deck.

We walked down to the Point every night after dinner to breathe in the salt air and bask in His glory as the sun went down.

Tuesday, Aug. 11th

Our beach day.  

He's the sweetest!

Love him!

Maddy rallied the group of kids next to us and made a boys vs. girls sand castle challenge.

Wednesday, Aug. 12th

We rented a boat for the afternoon.  We did the same last year, and enjoyed it so much that we did it again.  C4 was in rare form.  Happy, playful, good mood, goofy.  We all enjoy that side of him.

We dropped anchor at the Kennedy Complex for lunch and then did tubing all day in the bay.  Beautiful day, tons of fun.

The Point after dinner.

Isaac drove up to spend a night.  We felt honored that he chose to spend his 21st birthday with us.  Smitty's Ice Cream!

On the way home, with 10 of us in the van, my favorite 4 minute car ride EVER!!!  Click to watch.

Then a couple episodes of Impractical Jokers, a Cape tradition except Trevor (now 14) was allowed to join.

Thursday, Aug. 13th

On this day 7 years ago... Yosemite National Park.

We sufficiently embarrassed Isaac on his birthday!  He's been around us enough his entire life to not be treated like a guest.  We made a donut tower and sang Happy Birthday.  Unprompted, Sweet Rocco said, "We wouldn't do that for a guest; only family." 

The kids all played tennis and water polo until we got shut down by a little rain.

We spent the rainy afternoon watching hockey playoffs instead of the Olympics because #covid.  (One of the games during the week set all kinds of records going into a 5th full-period overtime! A 5-1/2 hour game!  No, I didn't watch.)  Strange watching hockey in August, but the kids were happy to be with a tv for it.  We had a steak and lobster feast in honor of Isaac with sparkling cider even!

Around 9, we loaded the kiddos into the van hugged and kissed everyone and sent them home for the weekend.  Boy is it hard watching all six in one vehicle pull away for a two hour highway trip!  C4 and Maddy covered for us so we could enjoy a weekend with Bob and Jules.

(sidenote: One of the best "big family quotes" to date.  The kids packed up to walk back to the house for lunch and started their little parade to exit.  One of the Cape residents that I recognized from past years, said to C4, "Is this some sort of camp or something??"  Hahaha...nope, just our family.)

Friday, Aug. 14th

We went and had coffee with David and Beth's (Jules' brother) who we now claim as our friends.  Such a sweet visit before heading for the beach, just the two of us.

We met up with Bob and Jules for the evening.  By my best calculations / according to the blog, this was our 14th annual Cape weekend with these guys!  They are dear, treasured friends that we have done a TON with.  Lots of talking through things, getting advice, crying with, rejoicing with.  This night, we celebrated Jules' birthday.  (She and Isaac share the 13th.)  Such a beautiful spot with one of the top 3 waitresses we've ever had.  She told Jules just to say, "Yes, it's my birthday.  I'm 25 plus shipping and handling."  

Saturday, Aug. 15th

A drizzly day kept us inside but we enjoyed a nice dinner down on the water.

Back home, Maddy took the kids plus some out for dinner after church.

Sunday, Aug. 16th

On this day 7 years ago, Death Valley.  ...and my only picture of the day.  

We went to Cape Cod Church, cleaned up the house, and left earlier than usual due to more rain.  We made it home in time for dinner and a sweet reunion with the kids.