4th Grade Tunnel

 Whitecaps Game!  Now that Laney is playing softball she was extra excited to go to a real game...and she ran the bases too!  Patrick is NOT complaining about the sudden interest in baseball with these kiddos. I should note Carson was too cool to run the bases...so that's starting.

 Spending some more time with our buddy Ollie!  We just love this little guy!

 Touch a Truck!

 It MUST be summer if we are headed to Uncle Tom's cottage!  We love to get there early so we have time to go back again :-)

 Evie and Jordan hit it off!  They were holding hands and it was just all too  much.

 Evie actually caught a fish with that net and then she threw it down and screamed so Jordan took care of the rest.  Oh these two!

 This girl has been waiting SO SO SO LONG to lose a tooth!  Funny thing is, she never even noticed it was loose.  Suddenly she showed us a tooth that was hanging by a few threads.  I told her it would come out in the next couple days and she looked at her Dad and said, "Get it out, Dad"...and that was that! Just in time to be able to say she lost her first tooth in first grade.

Carson's 4th grade recorder concert.  Not as painful as you might think...it was actually pretty awesome.  He has been working so hard practicing on his own at home.  He really enjoys music.  

 Happy birthday to ME!  Such a fun day!  We had Carson's recorder concert and then food and a special dessert (my personal fav, Salted Cupcake!) with the whole fam!

 Laney is front right, three kids in from the right.  What a fantasic group of kids with the best teacher.  She had the best year!

 Uh oh!  Look who's in a big girl bed!!! She resisted, but she had no choice once we took that crib down.  Grandma helped make her room look extra nice and to our surprise...she's transitioned really well!  She has a special clock named Mella that tells her when she can wake up and it really works wonders, except she's slightly obsessed with it and very serious about it.  When that thing turns green she goes into a panic running out of her room.  She doesn't quite get that she can just lay there as long as she wants, just can't get up until it's green.  We will get there.

 Meijer Gardens with Ollie, Maeve, Uncle Adam, Grandma, and Grandpa!

 Farmer's Market Fun.

 Laney rocked her first softball season.  That girl learned so much and she's so aggressive...she'll run clear across the field to dive for a ball even if it's not close to hers.  And she had so much fun and made new friends.  We are so loving watching you play sports and knowing you find joy in playing Laney Kay!

 Happy birthday to Daddy!  The kids were so excited to get up early and give him their gifts right away.

 This kid right here...we were JUST putting him on that bus after he ran away from it in kindergarten...how did he breeze through Thornapple Elementary so fast?!  On the last day of school, the Thornapple Elementary tradition is that all the parents make a big tunnel and they announce each class as they exit the building for the last time.  This was a little too much for me.  I can't say I didn't cry a little.  It totally snuck up on me.  It's like you see someone everyday and you think nothing is changing and then they graduate from elementary school and suddenly you realize how much they are growing up and how much they are changing.  We are so proud of you Carson Brang, just for being you.  You work hard, even when you HATE that homework, you are a good friend to everyone, you tried so many new things and surprised us with what you ended up enjoying the most, and you tricked your teachers into thinking you are the sweetest kid, the best listener, the most respectful student who would NEVER talk back to, let's just say, your Mom 😋.  You just keep doing you, little man!  (Except he told Patrick he can't call him that anymore, ugh 😏)

 Final soccer game for Laney!  I didn't get any pics of Carson's last game, but he had a two day tournament in Portage last weekend.  So right after Laney's Saturday morning game, we drove down to Portage to meet up with Carson and Patrick.  We stayed the night in the hotel and the kids enjoyed the pool and eating waffles with M & M's on them for breakfast.  It was more fun than I expected, soccer parents are pretty cool people to hang out with. They lost their first two games but went out on Sunday with a big win.  These games are so time consuming but honestly they sure are fun to watch!

 In between soccer games, I gave Laney and Evie a quick tour of Western Michigan University.  I just had to take them to one of my favorites, The Den.  They got a Den Pop (lemonade) and Laney asked the cashier if he knew me because I used to live here.  Hahaha.  It was so fun!  Laney is all in she wants to go there as of today.  The cutest part was when she asked me where my bus stop was.

 I had a meeting in Rochester so I took Laney along to visit with her buds Luke, Ellie, and Drew!  She had so much fun with Ellie...these two make my heart just melt!  I got to spend a few minutes catching up with Courtney too...it was such a good day.  We were telling the girls that we became best friends in 2nd grade, and here they are, going into 2nd grade.

 Laney and my cousin Gunnar at Founders!  I wish I had more pics... we  had such a fun time getting to visit with Uncle Jeff, Aunt Roxie, Amanda, Gunnar, Laura, and Warren!

Uncle Jeff Sandwich!

 Let Summer begin!  Now, if the weather would just get a little warmer we could really get this party started.  Carson got to spend the afternoon Alli on the river while Kate and Laney made up a water balloon baseball game at our house.

It's only been a few days since summer break started and this girl is struggling to keep up.  She loves her naps but we just can't make them happen every day because we are out and about with the big kids!  Poor third kid....don't worry she's having more fun than anyone.