Summer 2019 Sum Up

This summer came and went with lightening speed. I decided not to post any pictures until right at the end of the summer, so that I would have as much time as possible to soak up every moment with the kids that I could. This is Mack's last summer before going to big school, and the girls are getting more and more involved with school activities that don't necessarily involve me. I have just enjoyed (ok not every day) spending time with them and making memories as a family this summer. Not every day is a cake walk, but it is so nice to spend afternoons soaking in the pool, taking golf cart rides to feed the fish in the neighborhood pool, and generally not having to worry about getting to the next thing or making sure someone has a ride from the next thing.

After the last post, the kids had VBS, after that we had our Ft. Morgan Beach trip, the kids did a golf camp, then we headed to our annual SSI beach trip, Ellie went to church camp, Emma tried out volleyball camp here at VSU, the girls did a slime camp at VSU, Mack did another golf camp, the girls did tumbling camp, and they finished out last week with tennis camp. The camps are mainly to keep them busy while I'm at work in the mornings, but they loved all of them this year. I also, don't have pictures from everything, but I have many to sum up Summer 2019.

The kids actually got to attend VBS at OUR church this year. VBS usually falls on the week we are at Ft. Morgan, but his year it didn't.  The kids loved it, and were great in the final show at the end of the week. That's Emma in the dead center in a pink shirt and glasses. 

Mack did some great singing as well in the fiinal show! 

Ellie did a great job performing as well. She was not completely thrilled about going to VBS, because she said she was too old for it (even though it's Pre-K-5th grade,) but she ended up having a good time. 

There were sooo many kids in our VBS this year. Our church is known for their children and youth ministries and it shows, when this many kids show up to your VBS.

Next up was Ft. Morgan, AL with all of our "beach friends." Mack didn't waste any time hitting the waves on his boogie board. 

This precious baby in the pink blanket was the hit of the trip though. Meet Willow Hughes, the bright light in some heavy  despair. 

I wasn't the only one that got snuggle time with sweet baby Willow. 

Emma had quite a few turns. Girl loves a baby!

Baby beach nap

We stayed in new house this year, as none of us could bear going back to the old one and reliving that night over again in our heads. 

The big girls put on a play for us one night. 

It was hysterical, and actually really good. I will say it was spearheaded by some pretty serous drama queens. 😉

They included everyone, even the moms got to jump in for a dance at the end. 

This was our play bill for "Everything but Cinderella" 

Mack and Worth goofing off with a huge sea shell. 

Nights included lots of games such as Jenga. Mack was a fan. 

The ice cream truck still delivered twice a day to our new beach house despite the concerns from some of the kids that he may not be able to find us. 

Caroline and Ellie catching minnows and other sea life. 

The youngest Shelton boy, Rhett, took a liking to Worth and would have discussions with him  on the beach. 

Mack realized that he LOVED throwing a football this year at the beach, and he "practiced" every day. 

The big(gest) girls. These were all of the first born Birmingham girls. L-R: Avery, Maggie, Lily, Caroline, Ellie

Gilligan came with us as well. 

Some of the kids enjoyed using these nets to catch and release all kinds of sea creatures, even Ellie!

Until rip tide warnings kept us all out of the water, this girl lived in the water and waves. 

Wave hopping. 

Even Ellie suited up and rode a few waves at Ft. Morgan

Dr. Hughes was in full effect with his pool kid throwing. 

They were all lined up and waiting their turn. I don't know how Hughes' shoulders held up. 

Crab hunting night happened. It was hard. We had new t-shirts and everyone had a positive outlook, but it was still hard. The Hughes' went through with it and were happy and sad all at the same time. There was so much emotion, but we crossed that hurdle, all of us together. The crabs were caught, and Levi was there with us in spirit. I just know that he was. 

Bowers crew suited up for crab hunting. 

We consumed A LOT of boiled peanuts under the tents this year. 

The boys decided to bury Ellen

Picture night! I love these ladies so much! 

I lined up an on site yoga class for us. It turned out to be really good minus the monsoon storm that swept up right at the end! 

The reason we are all together and friends started with these guys. They quickly all became friends and then soon after that, we were all family. 

All of the UAB family babies. 

Crazy kids - this picture is more on point with their personalities than the sweet one above. 

Healing can happen. We will continue to stand by their side through the pain. We are family and this trip meant so much to all of us to connect, cry, laugh, and just be together. 

Even the adults had some crazy picture fun in them. 

Megan took this picture of Ellie and I. She is getting so tall! 

A windy, yet acceptable beach family photo. 

My loves. 

After Ft. Morgan, ALL 3 kids went to golf camp this summer! Mack was so excited as he wasn't old enough last year. 

The following Friday, we turned around and headed right back to the beach at SSI with our other family. I love this picture of Grey, but I love the conversation between Mack and Bo in the background even better. So intense. 

A little morning cousin time. 

SSI doesn't have the waves that Ft. Morgan does, but sometimes when the tide is coming in, you can catch some good ones  on the boogie board. 

I'm not sure Grey had to walk very much this year at the beach. 

It was so awesome to have all the cousins together. They played so much. There is always some sort of "race" when they are together. 

Another silly picture. Banks is on point in this picture. 

Benny's Red Barn night is always fun, especially when Hardy is there to entertain everyone. 

Patriotic Bowers folks. 

Mack and Banks taking a break. 

Bo didn't hesitate to give wagon rides, and Mack didn't hesitate to jump in. 

More high tide wave riding. 

More conversation time between Bo and Mack. I wonder what they talk about. 

Hardy was too cute!

Mr. Hollywood. 

I think Banks rode sand instead of waves. 

Sweet Bowers babies

We went back on the fishing trip that we went on last year with the Summers, but this year we went with the Berrymans. 

Banks and Mack keeping watch from the back of the boat. 

Big girl, Ellie. 

Emma caught the first fish! 

The catching by all the kids continued to follow that! 

The Berryman boys were not afraid to touch the fish. 

The Chancey cousins

Mia and Dubs with their grand babies. 

10 going on 20. 

Sweet Emma. 

Happy 4th!!

Ellie even rode some waves at SSI. 

Ellie jumped in on the football throwing with Worth and Jay. 

I was hoping he wouldn't throw his back out. He's an old man now. 

Homemade ice cream by the pool! 

This picture is a little out of order, but when we got back from Ft. Morgan, before we went to SSI, the kids gave Worth his Father's day gifts and were so excited about it since I forgot to pack the gifts and take them with us to Ft. Morgan. (Father's Day fell while we were there) 

Less than 48 hours after returning from SSI, Ellie headed back with some church friends to Camp Connect at Epworth. 

Ellie had her friend Anna Beth with her this year, so she was so excited! 

Ellie and Anna Beth with their counselor who ended up being a student at VSU. 

While Ellie was gone, I did a MAJOR clean out of all of her junk. She is quite the hoarder and it took me the ENTIRE week to clean everything in her room and bathroom up and out. As I was cleaning out school notebooks, I found the jackpot of some notes that were passed in class. Totally innocent, but so hilarious! 

While Ellie was church camping it, Emma did a 2 day Volleyball day camp. She fell in love with volleyball! 

I know 2 people that were REALLY glad that their sister was home. 

I caught these to chit chatting away. Emma was soooo glad to  have Ellie back home. 

Grandma's 65th birthday was on July 13th. We went to Tifton and had lunch with her. She doesn't look a day over 35. 

Worth and I celebrated 14 years of marriage over a dinner out at Friends on July 16th. 

I did some cleaning in Emma's room as well. This is what Old Maid looks like for moms. 

Emma had a big bump erupt on her top gums. It never got better and continued to look worse, so I took her in to have the dentist look at it. It turned out to be her permanent teeth pushing through, but her baby teeth were not budging, so the dentist pulled them. 

She did so well and even said that she didn't feel a thing. 

She got a popsicle at the dentist office and the tooth fairy gave her double the money. 

Tennis camp was fun for the kids at VCC. We spent one afternoon at the pool after lessons. They LOVE this slide. 

They each had the equivalent of 1 chicken nugget for lunch, but somehow still talked me into ice cream at the pool. 

We love shark week around here, and even had a themed dinner this year to celebrate  opening night! 

Ellie was fitted for pointe shoes last Sunday. She will be in pre-pointe this year and she cannot wait to start! 

We went to a peach farm and had some homemade ice cream one Sunday afternoon. This picture looks sweet, but it was HOT, Ellie got sick while we were there, and Mack was running around like a crazy person. Not the best idea for a Sunday afternoon. 

The pool is a daily event in the afternoon. This particular day, they played Pie Face by the pool. 

Snopocolypse was a hit for the Bowers kids. Mack and Emma had been before when Ellie was at camp, so I took all 3 of them this week. It was a much better experience than the peach farm. 

This kid got his book bag in and is ready for Kindergarten which will start this upcoming week! 😢