Schmidt Family Reunion

Last weekend we went to the Schmidt Family reunion at Log Country Cove. My Aunt Kathy and Angelica planned this really great weekend over a year ago in hopes that all the family would be able to come. Unfortunately, summer is a busy time for a lot of people and not everyone was able to make it. But we still had a really wonderful weekend with those who did!

The property was really well-kept and beautiful with tons of activities!  The boys and I stayed in a lakefront cabin with my Aunt Kathy, Uncle Bob, cousins Jared and Kim and their 3 boys. It was the meeting point for all the meals and snacks, so it was great to have everyone come to us!

We arrived Friday afternoon and did not waste much time getting in the water and exploring the place while everyone trickled in. We knew all the kids that were there with the exception of some distant cousins who were 9 years old--Leo, Hiram and Meyer (they are triplets, or as Cash describes them, "the boys that all came out at the same time"). It did not take long before they were all buddies.

We stopped at a bait shop on the way in to get some worms because Eli was basically foaming at the mouth to get his pole in the water.
Last year at the beach, all the boys formed a Fishing Club, so Noah had iron on logos printed up for all the boys and we put them on some tanks before we left for the weekend and they couldn't wait to wear them!

We did the Shabbat prayers before dinner Friday night which was lovely and had a wonderful dinner from Taco Deli!

When you have a bunch of boys bunked up in a bunk room together to sleep, you have got to expect that trouble with happen. Unfortunately for me, that trouble happened at 4:45am the next morning and I was the one who got to get up with the early crew.

We spent ALL of Saturday outside, starting off with fishing in PJ's as soon as it started to get light, to swimming to the trampoline as soon as the sun started to warm the water, to swings, paddle boards, more fishing, splash contests, grasshopper hunting, rope swings, and more.

Cash!

Owen!

That evening we went to one of the other cabins for dinner and a pool party. Unfortunately, I was too busy watching my daredevil of a child Cash that I didn't really get many pictures.

Sunday morning was filled with everyone hurrying around packing and cleaning up, but I promised the boys a little time in the water before we left. So we had a quick trip to the trampoline, the rope swing and an hour with the paddle board! It was a great, family-filled weekend! It was a really great, big group of family, but I was solo that weekend  because Blaine had to work, so I was pretty much glued to my kids the entire time because we were surrounded by water. I wish I had more pictures of everyone else.

FINALLY Tall Enough!

Listen, being able to go down the big slide at the Circle C Community Center Pool is a big deal!
And they are serious about making sure the kids are at the line. It was not until the very last week of summer last year that Eli squeaked through and was able to ride the slide.  All his friends had been riding it for a year and he just barely made it! It's tough being on the small side of all your friends!

So the first weekend that the pool was open, we all went with our fingers crossed......Owen really wanted to be able to slide.

And yall....he was tall enough!!!!! And his smile could not have been bigger!

He rode the slide with a huge smile the ENTIRE time we were there that day!

Last Thursday For A While

I LOVED my Thursdays with Cash during this last school year! It was the one day of the week we have absolutely no obligations since he started taking gymnastics on Tuesdays.  And have I mentioned that he is so much fun to hang out with?!?!?

One of our weekly rituals is to go visit my grandmother. We enjoy it just as much as she does! She moved into assisted living a few months ago, and its fun to sit in the dining room with her and have breakfast or lunch, or spend time in her room and catch up. She seems to have really settled into her new home and enjoys having people around her. Although, she has complained to me about people coming in and out of her room all the time. She bragged to me that everyone who worked there knew her name and that she was the only Mathilda in there! She loves to show us off every time we come and introduce us to everyone. It was a really good and safe move for her, but tough on everyone. She did a trial month and it was a good fit, so when the month was over, Ethan, Blaine, Cash and I moved in all her personal furniture for her.

So every Thursday morning that we are able, we head down to Brookdale and see Grandma. Here is a compilation of some of our Thursdays together.

Really and truly I feel so blessed to have all this time with her. And that my kids get to have all this time with her and that they know their great-grandmother so well.  Not only do we see her on Thursdays, but every Sunday we see her at my parents house.

We usually go do something fun after or on the days we don't make it up there.

We got to watch Savannah and play on Hobo's Vespa....

Hang out at 9th Street Park.......

Take the dirt bike out.....

And sometimes just hang out at home or run errands....