Study Hall

This little project has been in the works for quite sometime.  It was unofficially set up for the end of school last year, but we finally finished it a couple days after school started.  Stringham Study Hall is now open for business.

The Many Uses of Rubber Cement

Just in case you wanted to know what Samantha would look like with a bad botox job, here it is:

We still crack up every time we look at these pictures.  Who knew rubber cement could be so much fun.

And just because I love these little moments, I included this picture, too.  I don't know if Jonas is helping Peter or if Peter is helping Jonas, but it makes me smile.

First Day of School

Oh, I've been dreading this day since school got out in June and it just came way too fast.  After a short 10 weeks, it's the first day of school again.

Jonas is staring 9th grade this fall - and you can tell how he feels about it.  (I made him come back for more pictures.)

Samantha is heading off to junior high as a "sevie."

I think she and Jonas will have a lot of fun being at school together.  That hasn't happened since 2nd grade and kindergarten for these two.

I  imagine there will be all sorts of poking and annoying one another in the halls.

Here's the repeat version of Jonas.

Amelia will be a 4th grader this year.

And my little Duffy is headed off to 2nd grade.

These were the surprise photos I found on the camera.  Proof that everyone got all of their practicing and stuff done before school.  (I don't hold out much hope that it will happen again, though.)

The junior high kids bid us farewell at the door, but Peter and I walked the little girls to school to say good bye.  We will be so lonely.

At the end of the day, we all enjoyed a little time on the front porch.  (So glad we built that this spring!)

Shawn practiced his old man "Get Off My Lawn!" face, too.

Survived day 1, 100 and 70 something to go...

Shawn's Birthday

It's that time of year again - when Shawn grows another year older.  Amelia made him a birthday breakfast before he left for work and we saved the rest of the celebrating for the end of the day.

I think Amelia must have been in charge of pictures - there's just no other explanation for why there would be so many pictures of Shawn opening his presents.

As always, there are plenty of helpers.

Hard to imagine how sad and lonely it will be in a few years when it's just me and Shawn opening a present all by ourselves. ;)

These are the shoes he asked for.  He declared them to be "life changing."  They must be really comfortable.

Duffy's pretty excited about what's in that box.

This year, instead of the usual fruit tart, we went for a dessert sampler from Bakers de Normandie.

Mmmmm.

Shawn conducting his birthday singing.

And lighting his own candle.

Now it's official.  He's 41!

Happy Birthday Shawn!

Summer Band Jam

After several years playing just the upright bass, Jonas decided to give the electric bass a try.  He didn't know any of these kids when he started, but they played together all summer, and put on this concert with other bands at the end of the summer session.

His band never did get a vocalist, but one of the guitar players stepped in to do the vocals.

They call themselves "In A Whirl."

He had so much fun that he wants to keep doing it when school starts - as do most of the kids in his band.  (That's saying something for a kid who rarely shows any enthusiasm for anything!)

I guess we'll just have to see where this bass playing thing takes us.

Brighton Camp

After nearly a full week at home, it was time for Samantha to head off on her travels again.  This time, she was headed to Brighton Camp with the other Beehives from our stake.  I remember loving Beehive Camp, so I'm hopeful that despite her lack of enthusiasm, she will love it, too.  (As usual, once she got there and saw her friends, she was happy and fine.)  Before boarding the buses for a few days in Brighton!

Rob's Birthday

As per birthday tradition, I had to come up with something special for Rob's birthday.  I already knew there was no way I could beat the face pillow he gave me this year, but I had to come up with something unique.  It just so happened that a couple days before his birthday, I came across these skeletons at Costco.  (Really disappointed I didn't end up getting any for myself at the time - who knew the Halloween stuff would be gone by the 1st of August?!)

Since his birthday was on a Sunday, Shawn broke into their house while they were at church, so this is what they came home to.  I don't think there were any skeletons in their closet, but there were some in a few other places...

We had a lot of fun with these guys.  Amelia affectionately named them Bob, Joe and Trevor.   And we threw in the balloons just because I know what a fan Rob is.

When we went back that evening to celebrate, we discovered that the skeletons also make great dance partners.

The nice thing is, I see potential with the skeletons.  Just like the face pillow, it can be the gift that just keeps giving.

Happy Birthday Rob!