June Round-Up!

We've had a good start to our summer with lots of fun things going on. I've already shared about Abby's graduation party and VBS. Now, it's time to share about some of the other things we've had going!

Bren loves playing basketball and wanted to do a basketball camp this summer. We were able to enroll him in a three day camp at a private school nearby. He had a great time, and it was worth the cost and effort to get him there!

He was very pleased that his friend, Zack, was also there!

Summer nights are for hanging out with friends until dark! The S girls teamed up with our girls to give us quite the backyard concert one night :-).

What is summer without time reading good books with your twin in a hammock?!?

Since Brooke and Brecklyn are seven years old, I thought it was time to get them an official eye exam (as opposed to the screenings they've had at school and at their pediatrician's office). One day I was busy working on VBS stuff when the doctor's office called and asked if I could bring the girls in right then due to a cancelation. We loaded up and got there in a hurry! Thankfully, both girls have healthy eyes and great vision for now.

Brecklyn

Brooke

Something about a sleeping little one just gets me. Brooke loves to start in our bed at night, and often tries to get out of going to her bed when we're ready to sleep. Sweet, sleepy face 💜.

Brooke napping in our bed with her best stuffie, Timber

I know I've said it so many times before, but the sunrises and sunsets we see from our house are incredible. Thank you, God, for this tremendous blessing!

The week after VBS, the twins had "Cowboy Camp" at the Will Rogers Memorial. It was three days of cowboy fun, and this year their besties, Sadie and Caroline, got to join them!

Eating lunch at Cowboy Camp

On the final day of camp, the kids were asked to dress in their best cowboy (or cowgirl) gear.

Out of all the activities, I think rope making was probably a favorite. Brooke also did great at target practice and actually won in her division!

We love a reason to be excited around here, and the official first day of summer was a great reason!

One evening, the Whittles came over for dinner and playtime. We all had a GREAT time! 

Neo, Bren, and Zac

Lia and Brooke

Lia and Brianna . . . she loved Bri's baby dolls!

Lia (with Amber and Katrina), Brianna, Brooke, and Brecklyn

We had fireworks from last year that we never shot off, so we dug those out for some evening fun. We put Chris in charge, and aside from one small incident (not Chris's fault), it was a great time!

Such a gorgeous evening . . . it was hot but the sunset was perfect!

Chelley and Angie

I adore this photo of the kids . . . these friends are so very precious to us!

Zac, Bren, Brooke, Brianna, Lia, Neo, and Brecklyn

I recently purchased some logic puzzle books for Bri and Bren to use as brain warm-ups when we start school. They couldn't wait to start working on them, so I gave them the books early. One day at the chiropractor, I look over and see Bren helping Bri solve a puzzle.

Brianna is getting older, and along with that she's wanting to do a lot more things during the summer. She was so excited when she was invited to go stay a week with her cousins, JT and Mallory. They came up to Oklahoma for a few days, then took Brianna back home with them. I sure missed my girl, but I also realize this is a special time for her to bond with her cousins and have a little independence. 

Mallory, JT, G-Jo, and Grampy

They're taking my girl!

We kept pretty busy while Bri was gone . . . 

we went to the splash pad,

had a picnic with Grampy and G-Jo at the lake,

visited the library a couple times (and the twins got their very own library cards!),

went bowling with friends,

went swimming at our friends' house,

did some directed drawing videos,

made home-made play-doh,

went on a walk with Grampy at the nature preserve,

and made a slew of freezer meals for later in the year. 

Meanwhile, Bri was having a great time in Mississippi.  I don't have many photos from her time there, but she enjoyed playing with their kittens, eating dinner with their friends, swimming in a lake, and visiting the Memphis Zoo. 

On the last Saturday of the month, we met JT, Mallory, and Bri at Cracker Barrel in Conway, Arkansas to get our girl back. It was nice to see them and even better to take Bri home with us :-)!

Mallory and Brooke

Brecklyn and JT

I'll write more about this in another post, but everyone seemed fine when we left the house to drive to Conway. However, by the time we were on our way home (after lunch), Bren started feeling really bad. He kept complaining of muscle aches and leg pain. It was no surprise to me that when we got home, he had a fever of about 103 degrees. It turned out that he had Covid! We're still in the throws of that for now, but I'll share all about it soon.