June

 

After-dinner walks rarely include our tallest family member, so it feels like a treat when he's around and able to join us

Bridgette loved getting together with some of her friends from Unitas - much fun was had, including decorating cupcakes =)

For the past five summers, we've been fortunate to connect with a friend who is able to purchase farm fresh blueberries in bulk - they are delicious . . . and HUGE!

Happy Father's Day to Ryan, the fearless leader of our Bunch of Paynes

Instead of sending the kids to various summer camps this year, we asked grandparents if they would host "Oklahoma Camp" =)  The kids flew together to spend a full week with the many wonderful family living in Oklahoma.  They started in Norman with the Martin side, then spent the rest of the week with the Paynes.  What a gift it is to have extended family willing to host our kids, love on them, and create special memories with them.

Bridgette offered a hilarious summary of what it would be like for the kids to travel together:

"Rooke looks like he's in charge so people won't mess with us.  Gretchen is responsible, organized, and actually in charge so we'll be fine.  I'm willing to talk to anyone, so I'll get help if we need it."

Getting ready to board . . . this photo cracks me up, as it captures the reality of my kids:

Rooke - please stop taking photos.  This isn't a big deal.  I've got the boarding passes on my phone.  

Bridgette - extroverted, sporty, uninhibited in her excitement for the trip

Gretchen - happy, chill, put together, amused by her sister until it looks like things might get embarrassing and then drama ensues

Proof of life on the receiving end

Taking a campus tour of our alma mater, OBU - maybe one of our kids will go there?!

Drive-in movie!

Rooke got to join Big Daddy and "the boys" for lunch

Meanwhile, Ryan and I went on a long hike in Shenandoah National Park, only to get caught in an actual thunderstorm - ah!  We got soaked, ran a couple miles for a good workout, and were safe to laugh together afterwards.

Fun times with the Paynes at the OK Aquarium.  Rooke also got to play disc golf with Uncle Sean

The red heads came home together, while Bridgette got to stay a bit longer to enjoy a special "13-year-old trip" with KK, Big D, and Maisy

 I made Rooke and Gretchen help me finish the puzzle I'd started so we could clear off the kitchen table

Back to Norman for a few more days . . .

Sunday at First Baptist Church in Norman with Nana

Making tote bags

Learning how to make KK's special homemade noodles

KK planned a special tea lunch for these dear women to spend time with Bridgette and Maisy and encourage them as they move into official teenage years

There was quite a bit of drama in Bridgette getting home.  Moral of the story: don't fly as an unaccompanied minor with American Airlines and make sure Aunt Sara is around to bail you out at 6am!

She's home!  

May

Another weekend, another basketball tournament.  We love getting to watch him play.

Seventh grade grammar student hard at work

To fulfill her PE credit, Gretchen joined the track team this spring.  It was a challenging season for her mostly because of nagging shin splints.  This photo pretty much sums up her feelings about the whole experience - ha!

Thank you, VetTix, for the chance to see the WNBA Mystics vs. Fever game!!!  We're big fans =)

It's difficult to determine which of the kids' various activities, performances, games, extracurriculars we are going to prioritize as an entire family.  In my ideal world, we would all stay on the same program and all go to All the things!  Not reality.  But we did show up for Gretchen's end-of-year choir concert, which was a wonderful evening of beautiful music.

Rooke's first time to vote!!  In Cheverly you can vote in the local elections once you're 16, so Rooke went with me to cast our votes for our next Mayor.  

Cute drinks with girlies is pretty fun

School is finished for Bridgette!  She got to spend a night away camping in Lancaster, PA with the seventh and eighth graders from our homeschool co-op

End-of-School popsicle run with our neighbor friends!

Last Day of School for Gretchen!  Being a classical school, the shift from 9th to 10th grade is significant in that she will now be considered a Rhetoric student for her remaining years of high school

A very kind member of our church generously gave his time on multiple evenings to help Rooke prepare for his AP Precalculus exams.

A weekend of camping!  Complete with Camping Cake, Chickenfoot, and literally no cell phone service.  The best =)

Spontaneous date night to see the Avett Brothers perform at Wolf Trap - it was a magical night!  The weather was perfect, the music was entertaining, and my date was the best.

April

The month started with Rooke's first AAU tournament of the season.  First, he and I went to his school choir concert.  I accompanied his choir, which was a treat, and Rooke sang with the Bass section.  We left from there and drove straight to Pittsburgh for the weekend.  The Lord was kind to answer several prayers for us: Rooke stayed healthy, we had fun together, he played well, and we made a good connection with a Christian coach!

He wasn't a very interesting travel buddy on the way home . . .

Meanwhile, Ryan was at a men's retreat with the guys from our church, and the girls were having fun with Aunt Vallerie!

Cute sisters in matching dresses for the Unitas dance!

Because Bridgette's birthday falls near spring break, we hosted a belated birthday party.  She decorated and planned it all out herself.  The movie room complete with "aesthetic snacks" =)

Another weekend . . . another basketball tournament.  Bridgette came with us this time for one night away in Virginia.  We even found time to make our way to the beach!

Happy Easter!  Christ is Risen!

Our church set up a photo booth and said they used Rooke as the measure for how tall the backdrop should be placed - ha!

Bridgette worked with the other Logic students at our co-op (7th and 8th graders) to write and perform an updated skit of A Midsummer Night's Dream for History Day.  They were hilarious (besides Bridgette playing a male role and painting on facial hair!)

Science Fair - whew!  She nailed it.  And she would want you to know that Spray-N-Wash is the most effective spray stain remover (according to her very scientific experiment!).

A friend from church passed on tickets to a local XFL game.  Gretchen, the least likely Payne to want to attend a sporting event, said she had more fun than she thought she would!

Bridgette performed with an ensemble in an adjudicated festival.  They received the highest marks for both of their songs!

Bridgette was treated to join friends for a performance of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe live at The Bible Museum

Tana and Finnick were in town for a school trip to DC and it worked out to get to see them!  Steve and Vallerie graciously hosted all of us last minute for dinner together.