4TH ANNUAL BAKE-OFF

 This was our 4th year hosting the Bake-off.

Every year we pick a different theme and this year's theme was "Outer Space."

We had some serious judging this year!!

Unfortunately, I was unable to get each contestant with their entry this year--it was just a little hectic and shortly into it, we had a threat of rain.

The entries:

(Junior Division ages 5-12)

Senior Division

(13+)

Congrats to all our Bakers!

EETHY BABY HAPPY

We recently celebrated this guy's 4th birthday! 

Gotta love the holiday paper, huh?

If birthdays fall on a weekday, our "tradition" is that the birthday person can pick one present to open in the morning and then open the rest when Dad gets home later.

He is going to be playing soccer for the first time starting next week!

We're so excited!

Happy birthday, big boy!  

We hope you had a wonderful day.

SUMMER INTENSIVE

 

This summer, Bean decided to join a summer theater intensive at one of the local-ish co-ops.

It was pretty pricy and a really big time commitment, but she was willing to pay as well as put in the time. So, off to Randolph she went for two weeks from 8am to 5pm most nights..sometimes it ran a bit longer.  She is NOT an early riser, but was up every day without having to be nagged.  I am so thankful that she had a friend with a license to carpool with, it was a tremendous help!!

They worked hard and in those two weeks put on an amazing production of 

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

photography during the performance was discouraged, so this is literally the ONLY photo I have.

I do know someone who took a couple, so maybe I can see if I can borrow a few pictures..we'll see. 

The costumes, set, music-it was all very well done and in such a short amount of time.

She had a great experience.

My only complaint was that the show ran until pretty late at night and little brothers didn't last the length of it.  Hopefully, if she chooses to do it next year they will be able to handle sitting through the whole (almost) 3 hour show.

10 YEAR PARTY

 

We always look forward to the 10 year party, 

though it definitely signals that the summer is coming to a close.

It is fairly low key and just a nice day out.

We had a brief bit of rain but it passed quickly.

Unlimited dessert is something the kids look forward to..

someone can't have ice cream, so just enjoys the toppings.

The tennis courts and ping pong got a bit of use this year, but they were all the way on the other side and so we didn't get any pictures. 

All employees that have been with the company for ten years plus are invited with their families to the country club.  Again, something we look forward to every year.

FAIR TRADITION

 

Something the kids look forward to every year for the past several is when the fair holds the demolition derby.  The boys make a date of it--this year 5 went--next year it will probably be 6.  They save up some spending money and hit the fair with Dad.

This year there was an added bonus, MJ registered to vote!

Demolition derby.

Word is the mini vans were a big hit.

Meanwhile, back at home the girls and I (and the little boys) order Chinese food every year when the boys go to the demolition derby..

terrible picture, I know.

We went swimming, played Dutch Blitz, made homemade coconut mochas, and watched a movie together.

It's the little things that are sometimes the most memorable.