Schools out for Summer!! (Long Post Alert!!)

 Well, it's been more than two months since I've posted anything, which is absolutely an indicator that every single day has been filled with something! That trend is over and it's finally time to REST! We've been having a blast with all the action happening, but we need some boredom in our lives :) 

As the title says, this post is lengthy! It starts at the end of May and goes all the way through the beginning of July. (And it doesn't even include specific things like Mellany and I's trip to South Carolina, our trip to Texas, Johnnys birthday or our Summer Bucket List...those are all separate posts!) So get ready!! 

Johnny is seriously loving his chickens!! He goes out and checks them every morning and then again throughout the day and at night. It's been so fun to watch him take care of them. 

Mellany and Charlotte had a middle school information meeting and we found our neighbor's locker! They wanted to send him a picture they were so happy. 

As busy as May and June were, I continued to make it to the gym....which is a huge feat i'm pretty proud of. It would have been so easy to sleep in, but I'm so glad I stuck it out! An instructor took this pic and sent it to me....so proud of those muscles!

Nothing like playing against one of your best buddies! 

5th Grade Graduation!!! 

Sadly, John had to travel for work so he couldn't make it, but it was such a fantastic program and amazing day for Mellany. She received the presidential fitness award, honor roll all 4 quarters, the citizenship award for her class (which is huge-only 1 girl and 1 boy from each class receives it), and then she was also picked for the Diana Haley award!! The Diana Haley award was given to one girl and one boy picked by the staff, out of all the citizenship award winners. The award was for someone who exemplified ultimate kindness, generosity, a genuine heart and overall helpful attitude. She had no idea she was receiving it (same for me!) and she was absolutely shocked....as was I! I didn't even get a good picture because I was just listening so intently and looking at her reaction....and I may have had a hard time focusing through the tears in my eyes. Such a proud moment as a parent.....the academic awards are wonderful, but the character awards are the absolute best in our opinion! 

Citizenship Award!

Receiving the Diana Haley Award

5th Grade Completion

Mellany and her besties

A little backyard baseball!

Last day of school! 

Last day on Mrs. Spencer's bus!

Charlie wasn't feeling the bus ride and wanted to be driven to school with mom

On the last day of school, the 5th graders walk through the halls of the elementary school one last time and all the kids, teachers and staff in the building come out of the classrooms and cheer. It was such a fun experience!

Charlie's last day of Kindergarten!

Mellany's last day in the elementary/intermediate school....moving on to Middle School!

Resting after an eventful day!! 

That same night we got to move the chicks to their new coop outside!

Recital Day!! I just love watching her do what she loves!

I can't leave my phone anywhere....Charlie is always finding it and surprising me with selfies

Taking a morning walk in the neighborhood and Charlie found me to ride his bike 

Charlie finished up another 3 days at Harrison's baseball camp and had so much fun!!

The week of VBS we found ourselves at the ball park 6 out of 7 nights and John was even gone for a few of those nights. So the two kiddos that weren't playing were allowed to stay home and get some rest. On one of those nights, Charlie sent me these pictures from our "home cell phone"; one to let me know that he was watching tv in our bed and one to let me know he was sleeping hahaha!

The chicken coop is officially finished!! John did such an amazing job on it and the chickens are so happy! Even since this picture he's added a chicken swing and some solar lights.

Another night, another baseball game! Love watching Johnny play catcher!

These three and their daddies ventured to a truck pull and had the best time. 

Just another afternoon loving on their chickens...

Every time Charlie gets a cake pop...."Mom, do I look like Grandpa Bob?" ....lol.....Grandpa Bob always has a toothpick in his mouth and Charlie finds it so comical!

Another night, another baseball game.....this night just happened to be cold and rainy...

After winning the first game in their tournament, Charlie's team got to play his friend James' team again. Charlie's team lost, but played a great game and had fun! Charlie even got to be team captain for the game. This particular game was NOT chilly and rainy....it was HOT!

Winston on chicken duty..

After a 6-night baseball game streak, it was time for a date night! We went to the Hank Williams Jr. concert with our neighbors and had a great time! The concert was fantastic....definitely a bucket list item for us! 

It's a terrible group picture, but a memory nonetheless..

Johnny's birthday gift from the McNeely's arrived....a metal detector! These two boys have spent hours trying to find treasures! 

After returning from our Texas vacation....it was time for Winston's annual vet visit. Johnny is always my helper when it comes to going to the vet, and I'm so thankful he loves to come with me. 

The Saturday night before 4th of July was spent at the neighbors watching fireworks from the hot tub! These kids are really living their best life! 

The Monday and Tuesday after was spent building legos and taking a much needed walk ....summer morning walks are just the best! And having John off work is even better!!

Johnny picked a carrot out of the garden to see if they might be ready yet and though it was hilarious!

One of my tasks this week was tackling the kids' school boxes. Several hours later everything was sorted through and back to nice and tidy! Having this task done always makes me feel so much better, those stacks of papers really start to take over the closet.

GOODNESS!! That was a lot! I'm really looking forward to not having as much to write about the rest of the summer-or at least not waiting as long to write about it. :) 

Girls Trip: IoP

This fall, Mellany enters middle school! We have told the kids that before they go to middle school, we will take them on a trip of their choice.....just 1 parent and 1 kid...so this was Mellany's turn!

We sort of surprised Mel with her trip, knowing exactly where she would want to go. So I booked the trip to Isle of Palms, SC (which happens to be my most favorite place also) and then John and I surprised her after school one day. To say she was ecstatic is an understatement! She immediately started a countdown and a packing list (just like her mama) and started talking about what she might want to do while we are there. 

The morning came to leave and she got in some last minute snuggles with Winston. 

Ready for the 8 and a half hour drive to Asheville, NC where we were staying the night. I had purchased a bible study for us to work through also so we listened to that and discussed on the drive .....it was so awesome! 

Our first adventure on the trip was Buc-ee's! We had never been and heard such amazing things, so we knew it was a must-see. And wouldn't you know it, we ran into our friends while we were there!! They were headed to Gatlinburg and had stopped also! 

Made it to Asheville! We grabbed taco bell for dinner and we crashed!

I got these pictures from the boys....Johnny sent a picture and asked how we were doing and then John sent a picture letting me know that my spot had been taken over. 

John had also sent me this...the checklist I had left the boys was a hit and they were super successful with it! 

When I woke up the next morning, I realized very quickly that I had pink eye! ugh!! Pretty sure I got it from the virtual reality game I played with Charlie at Malibu Jacks for Johnny's birthday. So, our first adventure for the second leg of the trip was to a local urgent care. 

But first, a breakfast selfie! 

After about 5 hours of driving, a grocery stop and a bit of shopping before the stores closed....we made it to our condo!!! It was magical! We could see the ocean from our windows and porch and the pool was just a short walk too!

Shortly after getting settled, the boys sent us this mexican dinner selfie. 

Our first full day at IoP was spent at the beach! It was a bit chilly, but still amazing. 

We found a HUGE jellyfish in the sand

And Mel even found a shark tooth! 

The next day, she decided she wanted to venture into Charleston to shop the market, take a horse tour, have some lunch and see Rainbow Row.....so that's exactly what we did. 

After spending more time in the city than we thought we would, we decided that we wouldn't really have any time at the beach (and it had also started raining) so we would head to the movies to see The Little Mermaid!

(someone got a little nap in on the drive...)

Ready for the movie!

Our third and final day, we spent the morning at another shop Mellany wanted to visit, having brunch and then we were at the beach for the rest of the day. 

Sadly, we headed back toward home the next day. We stopped at Zaxby's for the second time and decided we really love it! 

I don't think either of us will ever forget the amount of fun we had together on this trip! I'm so thankful we were able to take the trip and hopefully we've set an even better "stage" for her middle school years with her mama (and dad too!)