Vacation Bible School-Secret Agents

Our kids look forward to VBS all year long! This year the theme was Secret Agents so they were extra excited:) I was able to help by co-leading the Bible Memory Room. It's always fun but lots of work!!

 The only pics I got were from the assembly on the final day when the kids all sang for their parents. It's hard to see but Carter is in an orange shirt... 

 ...Crosby is the tall guy on the left with the green shorts...

...and Cooper is also on the left with the white shirt. They all got way into their songs!

Here is a 2 min video:)

Staff Retreat and Time with Family

 We had our staff retreat this year at my parent's cabin. Our team is so great with the boys!! They got lots of attention and it was pretty relaxing as we caught up, watched Olympics, played some games and ate lots of food! 

 Our team left after 2 nights and we stayed one extra night as my parents, Shannon, and her girls were all heading up. Before they arrived we took a little family hike...

 ...the boys wore protective eye gear:)

 The mosquitos were pretty bad but the woods are so beautiful! 

 When the cousins arrived we hit the lake for some swimming and playing.

 It was a quick visit but the weather was great and the company even better:)

Carter's Birthday Party

 Carter asked if he could have an Olympic themed birthday this year. He invited some neighborhood friends and we played games in the backyard and grilled out!  

 8 years old!!  

Tim planned some fun games including this "Alligator maze"... 

 ...egg toss game...

 ...and homerun derby (kids versus Tim and me)! After games we grilled out, ate cake and then opened presents.

 The boys from the 'burbs! Gabe, Tyson, Sawyer, Isaac, Coops, Cros, Carter, and Rylan

Trying out his new wheels!

We love you Carter man! 8 years has just flown by. You are such a great big brother, athletic, intense, creative, you include people well, and we adore you!!!

Birthday Weekend at Cabin

Tim had to fly back to NJ to close down the Summer Mission. Unfortunately it landed over Carter's birthday but we still had a great time heading east to the Carroll Cabin. 

 Carter got a new glove for his bday so we spent some good time playing ball in the yard.

 And bocce ball too! The boys love this game!

 It was windy and cooler than usual but the boys still got in the water a bit.  

Birthday celebration!  

 We also got to go to Tall Timber Days in Grand Rapids. We saw the lumber jacks compete as well as got some yummy fair food! 

Week in the Cities

A Spark Cousin Wedding + Spark Family Reunion + Mission's Weekend at Wooddale Church on two sequential weekends...we decided to take some vacations days and just stay in the Cities in between. It was a 90+ degree week and the Sparks have a pool, so, WINNERS!!

Brett and Kirsten Spark are married! The boys asked to wear boy ties!!!! They were fascinated with watching the bride and LOVED getting down on the dance floor. What a fun night!

 This was a highlight...the boys did so well through the ceremony and being that it was an outdoor wedding, we gave the a little longer leesh:) 

The boys got some good bonding time with their Spark cousins the next day at the Spark Open Family Reunion! Ezra turned three in August and Isaac turned one in June.

We had a great week swimming, finding Pokemon, hanging out with Mimes and Gramps, and Steve and I did some triathlon training!

We took the boys to see Finding Dory! 

 Date Night! We went to a brewery, another restaurant for apps, and yet another for dinner! Then we walked around downtown Stillwater and visited the spot we got engaged.

 Shannon and the girls came to Stillwater and spent the night during the week. It was so fun to swim and play and visit with the Carroll cousins!

 Twinning 

 Papa and Nana watched the boys a couple of days while we had commitments at Wooddale Church for their missions weekend. We spoke to the 5-9th graders and had a booth on Saturday and Sunday. Nana and Papa took the boys to tour the new Viking Stadium! We were a bit jealous:)