Back 2 School Haze . . .

It's been the first full week of both girls back 2 school and Bear and I miss them. We hate the quiet house after the busy summer and everyone going/coming in/out of the house every day. 

Molly made the JV1 Tennis Team at SJA again this year - and gets to practice with Varsity - possibly going to play in some Varsity matches this year too! A total of 68 girls tried out! Here is their retreat from the first week! Can you spot Molly? 2nd row from top - 

Kate is loving middle school so far - here is her homeroom class this year at PE!

Molly's first tournament of the season - and they won!

Friday Night Lights have started! Can you spot Molly? 

{lower right corner of pix}

School is tiring! Thank goodness for Bear snuggles!

First Day of 7th & 10th Grade!

 

First day of sophomore year for Molly!

First day of 7th Grade (Middle School) for Kate!

6th Year of Bear dropping the girls off with me!

Now what? The house is TOO quiet, we both said.

Back 2 School Prep

 

I'm sad every year when summer comes to an end and the girls have to return to school and schedules - but I'm also so happy for them as I know the start of the school year is full of such excitement, seeing friends again, class schedules, fall sports and new routines. 

Kate is starting middle school this year which is a big change at Cure' - other side of the school and changes classes every hour and has fun electives this year! Molly is DRIVING to school on her own this year as a big sophomore and tennis tryouts are the first week of school after school every day! 

Lots of excitement around here!

Our Annual Back 2 School special dinner tradition  . . .

Molly started going school a whole week before Kate started - but still made 

time to paint Kate's nails for her first day for her.

We had to get online at a certain time to get a parking space for Molly! Sophomores get the WEST lot, the furthest away.

Kate asked me to make cinnamon muffins, as it's officially muffin season!

Kate's back 2 school day to meet the Middle School teachers and walk her schedule, bring her supplies . . . 

Great to see friends again! These 7th graders look so much older!

Homeroom crew!

Kate took apart her old gumball machine and and put inside quotes or words of inspiration for each day this school year . . .

Let's try it out-

Mike's Wyoming Trip!

When Mike and his grade school friends all turned 50 they decided to plan a big trip to mark the occasion!  They drove to Wyoming to hike the Cirque of the Towers - a 3 day backpacking loop!  

Here they are - leaving from Murnanes house in Omaha!

Mike was SO excited! They all were!

I was so excited for him! He's been training and planning for this 3 day, 2 night overnight hike for several months!  His backpack weighed 50 lbs - it was going to a a very tough hike and lots of elevation and boulders to climb, but I knew he would do great! 

He's always prepared.

He's been friends with 2 of them since Kindergarten!

He bought a Garmin device so I could track him and so we could text back and forth once a day as he was out of service range for cell phones. It was fun to see where he was . . .

He sent me some pix while gone and I loved this one - of his tent beside the mountains. See it in the bottom right corner?

They saw a couple of moose, but no bear on this trip.

Just gorgeous! Wyoming is so beautiful!

Love these guys who are like brothers to Mike! They were all in our wedding . . . 

{Mike, Andy, Tony, John}

 A much needed rest . . .

Mike left me and the girls all cards under our pillows - was a nice surprise! I loved my card with the Bear riding a bike in the mountains. :) 

They did it!! Now a much needed drive back 

to civilization and a shower and a bed!

August Days . . .

Enjoying the last few weeks of Summer to the fullest!

Swimming at our sweet neighbor's house . . . 

Making my favorite summer French omelette 

with fresh basil from the garden. . . . 

Both girls are playing a lot of tennis! Molly is 

prepping for tryouts for the St James team in 2 weeks!

Kate and I helped our neighbor Cindy make a birthday bouquet for her son's girlfriend!

The finished product!

Lots of baking . . . wishing for fall - 

Love Mom's vase in our kitchen!

Lots of beautiful colors this month in the garden!

Kate did a photo shoot with Bear. He always has his tennis ball close by.

Kate and Lucy had a Picnic in our backyard . . . 

More from the photo shoot . . . 

Bear's Golden Birthday!

Bear turned 5 on August 5th! He's seriously the best boy. He plays if you want to play, he chills if you want to chill, and he's as loyal as can be. He's our "helper" and always wanting to help us! He's just the sweetest dog in the world and I can't believe we got so lucky to have him be a part of OUR family! 

Grateful you were born, Bearathon Joseph!!

Mahoney State Park with McGinnis Crew!

 

Our 10th Year going to Mahoney State Park in Nebraska with the McGinnis Crew! 

Very bittersweet this year as Grandpa Pat has made the reservations for all of us before he passed away in late February of this year. We felt him with us the whole week . . . .

We had probably the best weather we've ever had there - highs in the 70's and low 80's the entire time. Which is very unusual for August!

We took some hikes . . .

Painted ceramics and Paddleboated - 

Rock climbed . . .

Played miniature golf - always a fun tradition!

Played pickleball . . .

Rode horses . . . 

And relaxed together . . . 

It was really nice quality time together . . .

Our last night was the Annual Awards night and S'mores over the fire . . . 

Patrick (Grandpa Pat) had these awards made prior to passing away - for each of the Grandkids with their nicknames he's given them on each one . . .

Mike took over and was in charge of the fire this year  - 

His Dad would've been proud . . .

Cousins (just missing Vaughn who had business internship in KC this summer)

{Molly - 15, Kate - 12, Charlotte - 12, Patrick - 11}

Grandma Pat took over the awards ceremony this year . . .