Lacrosse Tryouts

HIGH: I finally got caught up on all of my laundry!

LOW: The kids had lacrosse tryouts and we won't find out if they made it until Friday :(

Oliver was VERY nervous about tryouts and spent a lot of time yesterday practicing his draws outside!

And playing catch!

Oliver did get to meet his second cousin (or actually maybe his third cousin) at tryouts.  It is hard to tell from this picture but I cannot believe how much these two look alike!  And their personalities are very similar!

And we ended the night with a little Whitney from Mama. They act like they hate my shenanigans but I know they love it!

Pool Date & More Lacrosse

HIGH: We had a fun pool date!

LOW: Claire’s team lost their last lacrosse game!

Today we had so much fun on our annual Monday pool date!!!

The weather has been so beautiful so even though we were all beat from our crazy weekend, there was no way we were sitting in the house! So we headed over to our friend’s pool club and it was glorious!

Then we had Claire’s last lax game. Unfortunately, the girls were really short handed and we lost our first Bell league game ☹️

And today was Ary’s last game with us before she moves. She is such a mice girl and her family is so wonderful that it is really sad to see her go! Hopefully the girls will all keep in touch!!!

Then of course we had to go for ice cream after the last game!!!

And Oliver was right there having some ice cream with Papa ❤️

Wildcat Pepper Tournament

Yesterday was Claire’s turn for an all day lacrosse tournament!

Yesterday we got up bright and early and headed out to Syracuse for Claire’s lacrosse tournament!

Claire played great! The team had come together so well and the girls did well! This is our second year winning the toilet bowl game 🤣

This is also one of the last games that Mark will coach Claire 😢 

Oliver had a lot of fun playing with his buddy Elijah!

Even though we were exhausted we stopped on the way home for dinner. On our way home we stumbled upon Arnold’s Restaurant AGAIN! We have literally stumbled upon this place 3 different times and we really like it there! But this time it was closed ☹️

Hamburg Tournament

On Saturday Oliver had lacrosse tournament! It was local (which was so nice) but his first game was at 8 (which made for a long day)!

He played really well and I really love watching him out there!

His team did great’ they won 2 and lost 2! They have improved so much this season! They played their first real game in June and I cannot believe how far they have come! I am already excited for next year!

After a long day in the hot sun, I had some old friends over and we had a great time! It was a lot on one day but this is exactly what summer is for! We had so much fun that I forgot to take any pictures! This is the only picture that I have 🤣😂

Beach Day

HIGH: We had a fun beach day!!!

LOW: I can’t take how old Claire is getting 😔

After a busy morning we packed up the kids and headed to the beach!!!

The kids could each invite two friends but poor Oliver, his friends were busy!

Big shots!!!

But Oliver had fun playing water guns with Grandma!

After some beach fun Claire and the girls got picked up to go to the ice cream social (because they are getting so old!!!) and we walked up for some dinner. Even though Claire left me to go out with her friends, I still have Oliver to play on the anchor and get a free frisbee with his dinner!!!!

Grandpa kept Oliver company while we waited for our table 😁

Have I mentioned that I love summer?!

YMCA

HIGH: I had fun at the Y with friends!

LOW: I really have to remind myself to take more pictures!

Yesterday I took my favorite class at the Y and my buddy Jacqie joined me.  I love having a gym buddy!  We chat, we cuss, we laugh, and we get a great workout.  While we were working out our kids played in the adventure room!  I love this because my NEVER want to go there anymore, but once they heard Harper was going they couldn't wait to go!

Then Claire had soccer practice.  Here she is with her buddy Kathleen.  The last two on the field EVERY time!

Then after a long day we all snuggled up and watched Paul Blart Mall Cop.  And Oliver gave us a show of his amazing muscles :)

Taste Of OP

HIGH: I had a great shoot today, I did some shopping, and we walked up to the Taste Of OP

LOW: I didn’t take any pictures today!!!

I had fun shopping today with Claire! 

I had to get pictures from Claire’s Snapchat for tonight! This was the first time that we let Claire walk around with her friends on her own. I can’t even take it that she is old enough for this! I remember taking her up there in her stroller and seeing all the middle school kids and thinking “I can’t believe Claire is old enough for this!” And here we are!

The girls had fun and us parents were never too far away!!!

Green Lake

HIGH: Had fun at the gym with Jacqie AND  had a great day at Green Lake

LOW: I really don't have on today!!!!

We had a great day at Green Lake.  I love that we live so close to this park!  There is so much do here and the kids always have so much fun!

Claire, Ella, and Kathleen had a blast. These girls are growing up so fast!

Oliver had a blast playing with his buddy Harper!!!

We wrapped up the night with Oliver's lacrosse game!  They won against East Aurora and Oliver scored a beautiful goal!!!!

Pool Party

HIGH: We had our annual pool party with my work family 

LOW: The weather was a little iffy, but it ended up being gorgeous out!

I love the people that I work with and I really miss everyone over the summer.  So it is so nice that we all get together and catch up!

I did manage to get a picture of the girls!

The kids loved swimming with Charlie and the dogs!

Gone Fishin’

HIGH: I had a great run while the kids were at lacrosse AND Oliver got to do some fishing today!

LOW: I have to get better at taking more pictures!!!!

I haven’t been taking enough pictures each day, which can make this daily blogging thing a bit tricky.  Here is Claire and Oliver playing rock, paper, scissors to figure out who shot first in their hockey game. Today was actually a day that they went outside and played together all on their own! I didn’t even have to yell, “Seriously?! Go outside and play!!!”

Today the kids had lacrosse and then they came home and played for a bit. We finally had a day where we didn’t have to run around too much so Mark took Oliver fishing for a bit!

Oliver loved it but he was a bit disappointed that he wasn’t catching as many fish as he did in Jellystone!

So overall it was a very relaxing day! We haven’t had too many of those this summer so today was awesome. Have I mentioned how much I love summer?!?!

Beach Sleepover

I know I missed a couple posts but it is because we have been so busy! We had Claire’s sleepover to celebrate her birthday up at the lake this year and it was AWESOME!!!!

Claire picked out this sign to thank Grandma for offering to have her party at the cottage, then all the girls signed it. It was really sweet!

We all met at our house and then I drove everyone up to the beach!

Time to head to the beach!

Even though the sun wasn’t out the girls still had a blast! The waves were rocky and they loved it! And it didn’t rain on us all!!!

The kids had so much fun swimming, collecting sea glass, and collecting tadpoles!

We took a break for some pizza and wings!

Then it was time for some cake!

And to sing Happy Birthday!

Then it was time for presents! Claire got some really thoughtful presents from some really great friends!!

After presents it was time to head back down to the beach!!!

The girls loved swimming and taking tons of pictures with the beautiful sunset!

Claire really has a great group of friends!!! 

After it got too dark to swim we headed back up for some s’mores and campfire stories!!!

Finally it was time to come in and get our jammies on! And to put on her birthday sunglasses!

The girls wrapped up the night with some good old fashioned board games!

The girls were so sweet and really included Oliver in the whole day. But when it got close to bed time Oliver left the girls alone and played some games with Daddy.

And then they passed out!

And before ya know it, it was time to wake up and have some breakfast!!!

Claire really has such a nice group of friends so the party was really fun!!! I can’t thank Grandma and Grandpa enough for offering for us all to invade their cottage for the night! It was a night these girls will never forget, the had an absolute blast!!!

Happy birthday my beautiful 12 year old!!! I love you more than you know!!!