A weekend of celebrations

Mema and Pappo planned an anniversary dinner

in a private room just for us.

We ate salmon and steak, calamari and chocolate cake,

and made way too much noise in our little room.

But boy did we have fun celebrating their 48th!

Then on Sunday,

we got together with the other side of the family

to celebrate Grandma Phyllis's 70th birthday.

Yum, tacos and ice cream cake!

Isn't it weird that the best smilers

are the littles in this picture?

Ugh.  Big kids.

Anyway,

we also surprised Grandma

with a HUGE sign in her yard

so everyone knows it's her big day!

Lots to be grateful for this weekend! 

The return of Sports Saturday

Oh, we're excited for this season!

We have a Phantom,

a Saint,

a Panther,

and a Fire Pirate.

Tuck was excited to return to his team this fall.

His fast wheels are just getting faster--

he had 2 goals his first game!

I was a bit sad and nervous

to leave my infamous Pirates FC for flag football

but it turns out

all my best friends from 3rd grade are on

my football team!

We won our first game!

We're coming together nicely.

Weston returned to the Saints.

They look like an entirely different team this season!

They lost the first game,

but just by 2.

They'll get the next one.

Jackson's field is so big

you could hardly see him in any of Mom's pictures.

His team started off strong

with a shut-out win.

A great first day calls for

a picnic Sonic lunch!

We're psyched for the game!

Gotta love First Day of School!

Here we go!

Jackson is running cross country again,

but this year they practice bright at early at 6:30 before school.

He says it's the best time to run.

Mom and Dad are impressed with his dedication

since he is NOT a morning person.

But the first day of school

(or rather, 6:30 in the morning on the first day of school)

is not so "bright" for the traditional

first day of school picture

So he moved inside.

Interestingly,

we all start school almost an hour earlier

than last year

and technically after Jack.

But thanks to cross country,

we're the "late crew" for now.

Hello Highland Park crew!

I'm headed for first grade

with the infamous Mrs. Kasper

Beckett is headed for 3rd grade

with Mrs. Fortny

and Weston, in his last year as a Husky,

is headed for 6th grade with Ms. Wright.

AND, we're all headed in person!

Score!

The whole bus stop gang

Let's do this!

One final field trip

In case we hadn't mentioned it,

Dad left his law firm last winter.

Life is too short to hate your job.

And he thought he'd have lots of free time

to run around with us.

But, well, life.

We've done plenty of fun things,

but he's worked a lot on the house too

and suddenly, summer is gone.

But the day before school starts,

we decided to live up summer one last time.

To the zoo!

Mom was at work,

so it's just us guys.

It was a lovely day to hang with the orangutan 

Up close and personal

Calls for a selfie

How about a picture with our favorite animal?

I chose this rhinoceros parrot

Beckett loves the red panda

and Wes

Ok, wait.

Maybe I love the red panda too.

Beckett was obsessed with this guy--

house cat or wild African cat:

you decide.

And what trip is complete without

a ride on the sky safari

Don't let the smiles fool you--

there was a lot of temper tantrums

before this ride happened

(thanks, Dad!)

Did you know ostriches swim?

We saw them today

as we rode over the lake!

Not a bad way to finish the summer

Another one begins!

Tuck, 1st grade, Class of 2033

Beck, 3rd grade, Class of 2031

Me, 6th grade,

last year at Highland Park.

Class of 2028.

Oh, and Jack!

Once a Husky, always a Husky!

8th grade, class of 2026.

We're just excited we're going in person!

(and for posterity's sake--with masks.

And that's a really big infringement on freedom

for some people.

Eye roll.

Grow up.)

Double Date

The Bigs got invited to another slumber party tonight

and we were feeling pretty bummed out

to not be included.

Mom and Dad decided to cheer us up

with a big night out...

to Jack Stack!

We got all dressed up

and enjoyed a night on the patio.

We'd be ok if Jack and Wes go on slumber parties more often.

 

A Last Lake Hurrah

It was Mema and Pappo's annual

anniversary trip to the lake.

We may have crashed it.

But at least we brought cheesecake!

Labor Day is Mom's holiday to work

and with school and sports starting,

this is likely our last trip to the lake for a while.

We had to make the most of it.

Dad had to show off his muscles

bench pressing Beckett

and then me

The crowd was impressed

We did a lot of swimming

but even more watersports.

Jack made surfing look easy.

He was even able to surf without the rope

for about 30 seconds!

Mom went for a whirl

and Dad really made it look cool!

Mom did some kneeboarding too.

It's her favorite,

especially at the end of the day

when the water smooths out

Big event of the trip--

I WENT KNEEBOARDING!

I got up by myself and everything!

Mom and Dad were worried that I didn't know how to stop

(i.e. just let go)

so after bumping around for about 10 minutes,

they stopped the boat so I could stop.

I corrected them--

I could have kept going!

Beck did a lot of kneeboarding too

He made it out of the wake for the first time

and rode one-handed for the first time!

What a great way to end the summer!

With perfect weather

and even better company!

Setting REAL records

We knew I had a great season with Waves

this year.

I set a PR nearly every time I swam,

got a lot of ribbons,

and then got 5th High Point for the entire league.

But this one feels especially good--

Waves keeps a team record book

and look who has the 

2nd fastest 25 year 8 and under boys breaststroke record:

(and I love that my BFF Cooper is on the board too!)

BUT WAIT!

Look who has 

THE 25 yard 8 and under boys backstroke record:

Ok, now THAT'S pretty awesome!