Kicking off a new CC year

Our kids have been sooooo excited to go back to CC this year.  More than ever they've been so eager to see their friends and teachers; I loved hearing their enthusiasm.

Before classes began one of the families invited everyone out to their farm for a fun evening of food, fishing, horse-drawn wagon rides, and games.  What a great spot, and what great time to catch up with everyone!

Then the following Thursday was the Big First Day!

This year we added the extra writing class in the afternoon.  I worried that the boys might think the day was too long and that they would get bored talking about grammar.  Boy was I wrong!  It is quite a lively class -- standing up on chairs, singing, playing games, chanting, and plenty of laughter!

It looks like it's going to be a great year.

Multiple First Days of School

It used to be so simple when the kids were little and the First Day of School was whenever I said it would be!

This year the kids are 3 different schools with 3 different schedules.

Poplar Streams opened its doors for the 13th year and found 3 eager students ready to storm in!

 The shirts we bought 12 years ago are finally on their last legs (sleeves?) as the biggest ones we bought are now too small for our youngest children.

We had our usual first-day-of-school traditions...  A treasure hunt for the school supplies and apple pie for breakfast.

On the same day, Strider began classes at Campbell!  Since he wouldn't be home for apple pie, I sent some apple muffins with him the weekend before.  I asked him to send me a selfie of him going to class on the first day, but he refused.  I thought this generation loved selfies!  Oh well....

Moving on...

Rayna's first day at Weddington High School came the following week.  She was so thrilled to be so old and independent!  Her teachers seem so caring and helpful.... I think she will have a great year!

Off to College!

So our oldest has flown the nest.

I've had a few good cries about it, but overall I think we all felt like this was a good time for him to go and spread those wings -- the ones he's been flapping since he was about 3.  We've taught him as much as we could, prayed like crazy, loaded up his car with all kinds of new and shiny items, and.... said goodbye.

He spent the previous 2 weeks in Colorado at Summit Ministries Conference, so we had a little warm-up to get used to him being gone.  He flew home on the red-eye on the morning of the 18th, slept for a few hours, and then got packed up to leave.  Since he wasn't going to arrive at Campbell until dinner time, we opted to not take the whole family for such a long time in the car.  Plus, his friends Sidney and Isaac were going along, so with Pete driving the van, he had plenty of helpers.

I didn't get any good pictures of the big event because, A) It was pouring when they arrived, so the move-in process was a little hectic and hard; B.) Strider was stressed out because he realized he forgot his wallet, his student ID, and his pillow; and C.) He was wearing that silly Coors t-shirt which I wasn't dying to have in all his big "First Day of College" pictures. 

Nevertheless, he got settled in.  His roommate never showed up, so he ended up with a single room for at least a few weeks -- he wasn't complaining.

Now he is off and running, navigating college life with his typical flair and independence. And we continue to pray like crazy.

Sweet 16!

Our sweet girl is now sweet 16!

She has grown into such a cheerful and helpful young lady.  All summer she has been taking good care of her sister... reading to her for hours each day and playing all kinds of things with her.  She continues to love to help in the kitchen and can now make some dishes pretty much all by herself.  She still loves to be with everyone-- does not enjoy it if someone is missing, and really hates it if Pete and I are gone for any length of time.  The more, the merrier seems to be her motto!

For weeks she's been asking for a very particular cake for her birthday:  a round cake with a rainbow on top.  My abilities were weak, but she was pleased anyway.

To celebrate in the evening, we met up with Ms. Wendy and Mr. Dean for dinner and then went to the Airport Lookout -- a place we've been wanting to go to for a long time.  The boys have realllly been into airplanes lately, so they were so thrilled to have a REAL pilot that they could barrage with questions.

Rayna was all smiles all night, happy to be with her peeps.  (Except Strider -- who was at Summit Ministries Conference for 2 weeks)

Her next big adventure was to start school at the public school.... She couldn't wait!

Cousins Days

Once again Cousins Days were BIG days around here!

Since this year our theme is "Moving from Self-Centered Consumers to Compassionate Citizens," and we spent Day 1 talking about how to serve as citizens in our FAMILIES, we moved on in Day 2 to talking about how to serve in our NEIGHBORHOODS.

The main project for the day was making blankets for homeless children in our community...

And there was also plenty of silliness and messiness!

Then, on our 3rd Cousins Day, we focused on how to be compassionate citizens in the WORLD.
After coloring some pictures for soldiers and the elderly, and practicing writing checks for a million dollars (many of the kids addressed them to "The Poor," which was sweet), we made a craft and then got ready for the BIG NIGHT.

Parents joined us for dinner and the BIG PRODUCTION.  This year the kids did a skit based on "The Emperor's New Clothes,".... although some liberties were taken in costuming and props.

 Afterwards we taught the adults some of our songs, including the kids' favorite:  the JELLYFISH.  It was funny to see everyone hopping around like fools. 😄😄

Thus wrapped another season of Cousins Days.  Looking forward to next year!

Beach trip!

This year's beach excursion was to Hilton Head -- with the Clarks and Nonna and Poppa!  Extra special fun.  We had condos within biking distance of each other so it was fun to pop back and forth.

The kids all loved the time in the sand and the waves, of course (and so did Poppa.... he's still riding those waves from way out wall the way to where the water is only 2 inches deep.... we still don't know how he does that).

We had plenty of fun off the beach as well..... by the last night the adults were completely out of energy but the kids were just getting ramped up.  Dance party!

 And in the evenings God showed off His handiwork, too... such beautiful skies

The older my kids get, the less I panic that someone is going to drown and the more I love these beach trips!  Having extra family with us, too, is such a bonus.

Rayna prays

Yesterday was our first day of school so we did our now annual tradition of going outside to where the poplar trees are growing by our little backyard stream  -- and we talk about how funny it is that God knew all about this backyard we would someday have even back 13 years ago when I chose the name Poplar Streams Academy for our school.

We prayed for our new school year and Rayna's prayer in particular was sweet.  She knew she is going to Weddington High School this year, so as a fresh alumnus from Poplar Streams, she prayed for the other 3, asking God to make their hearts and minds grow stronger, that they would know more about God this year, and that their roots would grow deeper.

I love when my kids pray for each other -- and Rayna in particular seems to have a real gift for prayer.  Thankful.

Conference for ME!

Our consultant received the Lifetime Achievement Award

Ever since Pete started being invited to academic conferences I have been so jealous.  Who wouldn't want time away at a hotel or resort, eating food someone else made, getting to talk about ideas you're interested in??   I remember seeing a conference gathering at a nice hotel at a beach we were walking through once and thinking, "Now THAT would be awesome -- a reason to be at the beach on someone else's dime!"
Well, finally, in the year of 2018, I got to realize that dream.  My volunteer work as a board member of a new charter school got me invited to the state charter school conference -- and it happened to be at Sunset Beach!  And even better, Karin went too since she was presenting a workshop in her role as a school administrator.

So she and I drove up a little early so we could put our toes in the sand and enjoy the ocean before all of the "work" began.

It was fun seeing her present her information to the crowds!

I learned a lot, got to spend a lot of time talking about ideas with my colleagues and met people I wouldn't normally run into, so it was all a wonderful way to spend a few days.  That dream is checked off -- but I hope it's a recurring event!

Fun with friends

This summer also provided many opportunities to gather with our favorite people.... from life group peeps to neighbors to friends we don't often see to CC buddies, there were plenty of folks to enjoy meals and celebrations with!

One special guest that was around a good bit was Strider's girlfriend Sidney.  The whole family enjoyed spending time with her (but Strider probably did the most  ;)  )!