The Caboose is 7

 Mack turned 7 last Friday. He was beyond excited about it. He was up before 6:00am that morning and informed me "Mom, I think I got taller over night!"  He still loves legos and it is basically the only activity he will do by himself. He loves talking about, reading about, and watching sharks on tv. He is loud, fun, and we never have a dull moment with him in the house. We love him so! 

We celebrated his 7th birthday with an outdoor waterslide and swim party in our backyard. We rented a monster water slide and had 11 little boys come over. We attempted our best efforts at social distancing among them, but those boys were so glad to see each other! They barely stopped to eat and have cake. Mack was one happy boy after the party and told me "mama, this was the best birthday ever!" 

Mack was up  bright and early and surprised by the family gifts that were already out for  him. 

I couldn't take doughnuts to school for him - it's against the rules now during COVID, so Worth was able to go pick him some up for breakfast before he left for school. 

Give this boy a doughnut over cake and cupcakes any day. 

The girls hovered over him while he opened cards and gifts from us. Ellie attempted taking pictures and videos with her ipod. Pretty soon, I'll be off of picture duty. The girls can take care of it for me. 

I can't tell you how much Emma loves her little brother. 

Worth and I gave Mack a skateboard for his birthday. He has got a lot to learn to be able to use it properly. 

My baby is 7!!!

The water slide was huge! Thank goodness it fit in the backyard. 

Worth had to get a couple of slides in before the party guests arrived. 

The slide was quickly inundated with 6 and 7 year old boys. 

Mack had a posse following him everywhere he went. 

They were back and forth from the slide to the pool. 

They slowed down just for Chick fil A nuggets, chips, and fruit. 

Mack requested cookie cake again this year. 

I remembered the candles this year!

It was a fun day! Happy Birthday to our Mack! 

Back at it!

School officially started back this past Friday. Ellie began the 6th grade at Hahira Middle, and Emma and Mack stayed at Westside for 4th and 1st. Emma and Mack hit the jackpot with their teachers this year, and I'm beyond thrilled about it. Ellie got some good ones too, but middle school is so different. I don't know much about the teachers, but from what I hear, Ellie is definitely on a track to succeed. We had Ellie's open house Tuesday - no pictures because she wouldn't let me, and Emma and Mack had open house Wednesday. They all began Friday and per their reports, they had a great first day. I was most worried about Ellie being in middle school, but it seems that every other kid was just as nervous as she was. It sounds like the teachers were a lot of help and Ellie was very thrilled to see at least 3 of her teachers are HUGE UGA fans. They are all looking forward to next week. It's amazing how 5 months out of school and being homeschooled by your parents for 2.5 of those months will make a kid very motivated to return to actual school. I'm so glad our schools gave us the option! 

Mack and Mason have played together ALOT this summer! They are going to miss each other now that school is back in. 

If anyone was wondering, Leonard takes morning prayer very seriously. 

A local yogurt shop has been selling "harvest boxes" since the shutdown in April. I FINALLY ordered one. It was so fun to be surprised as to what all was in each box. All local or nearby state veggies and fruits. It was fantastic!

Last Sunday was the beginning of Shark Week. The kids pretty much prepared the food and signs themselves this year with a little of my help. Ellie learned a critical lesson on icing baked goods a little too early with her cupcakes. They love shark week on the Discovery channel. 

Since I don't have any pictures of Ellie's open house, I guess I will overload from Mack and Emma's. Mack dressed himself and was super excited about wearing his shark belt. 

Because of social distancing and CDC guidelines, teachers at open house met us at the doors to the classrooms and we weren't allowed to walk into any rooms. It took us 17 minutes to walk in, do both kids rooms, and walk back to car. Record time for an open house. 

Ellie was there with us, but wasn't in the picture this year. She's moved on to middle school! 

Open house went so quickly, we were able to get in a quick masked up Target run and then swing into Daylight Doughnuts for a quick morning doughnut snack before heading back home. 

This picture is terrible, but we've been letting Aspen come inside to get acquainted better with Leonard. They are so funny playing. I can hardly get a good picture, because they are always in motion. We are slowly getting Leonard ready for his transition to daytime outside. 

This cutie started his first official guitar lesson the night before school started! 

Mack has been practicing too: 

And then school started.....FINALLY! 

The masked bandits, ready to take it on! 

We weren't allowed to walk the kids in at Westside this year, so I snapped this picture just before Mack and Emma jumped out of the car. 

Frozen yogurt for the win after school! 

July 2020

2020 hasn't been the best of years around the world, but we are not letting it keep us down. We didn't abide by the quarantine rules that well in July. We went to SSI with the WHOLE family, we ate out at a restaurant, we had dance recitals (finally,) and we had cousins visit, the kids have been doing golf and tennis clinics during the week, we have ventured out to Target and Publix and actually gone inside (with our masks on of course,) and we found out recently that the kids WILL have the option to return  to school in person on August 14th. There were virtual and in person options and the Bowers kids are definitely going back in person. They are so ready to see their friends and have a break from each other.  It was also announced this week that UGA will have a modified schedule for football, and the first game was pushed back to mid September. This was a bummer to this Dawg loving family. We are just taking each day as it comes and not having any major expectations. This is our new normal. 

We made it to SSI for our annual family beach trip. Emma is becoming more of a "tween" each and every day. She looked so cute and grown up, I had to snap her picture. 

We arrived on July 3rd, so this year the 4th was our actual full first day at the beach. 

My 4th of July babies, even if they aren't babies anymore. 

Hardy never had to fear with Emma and Ellie at his side. 

The McDonald cousins met us on the beach. Charlotte, Molly Grace, and Ellie had matching suits. 

Grey and Jay working on Grey's swing on the beach. 

Mack just enjoyed throwing things at the seagulls. 

Our 4th of July crew L to R: Charlotte McDonald, Jake Summers, Hardy Tift, Ellie, Banks Berryman, Anderson Summers, Walker Summers, Grey Berryman, Molly Grace McDonald, Emma, Mack, and Bo Berryman

 Before watching fireworks, the Bowers wanted some family pictures on the beach. 

Yes, they are all related for sure!

A perfect picture with Mia and Dubbs. 

Mia getting some sugar from her grand babies. 

Grey taking it easy on the boat ride out for our annual fishing trip. 

Mack with one of the 4 sharks he caught on our fishing trip 

Banks cheering Emma on for catching yet another sting ray. We caught quite a few on this trip. 

Kate had to help little Grey reel his in. The girls were not far away to help if needed. 

Can't believe she will be a middle schooler in 2 weeks. 

Emma and one of the sting rays she caught. She wasn't a fan of getting close. 

Mack and Banks hanging out on the shark side of the boat. 

And he caught another one! The guy in the blue shirt was the helper on the boat. He was great with the boys and it was his 17th birthday! 

Working on patience. 

Mack and Banks caught a shark together. Somehow it got both of their lines. Emma and Bo quickly jumped in to provide help if needed.

About as close as Emma would get to touching her shark. 

Hot Rod!

The Banks/Mack combo catch. 

I'm so glad these cousins get this time together. They have so much fun, and so do the adults! 

Ellie's first catch. A stingray! 

Our crew headed out. George jr. jumped on with us this year. 

Emma was proud of the whiting she caught. 

She's growing up so fast.  

A snake eel!

Bo had the first catch of the day - a whiting. 

Mack and his snake eel. 

Boogie Boarding is always a hit with all the cousins

I tried to get all of them on the same wave, this was the best shot I got. 

In Alabama, we have the daily ice cream truck, at SSI we have daily Italian Ice! 

I think Papa had more fun playing ball that Hardy and Mack did. 

If only we could all relax this well on the beach. Poor Hardy was completely out in the sand. 

This almost middle schooler is still mesmerized by bubbles. 

We had a great safely distanced from others dinner at Benny's this year. I was worried it may not happen due to the coronovirus precautions. We made it, though, and our dinner was delicious. 

Leonard was one happy kitty when we got home. 

He is completely spoiled rotten.

The week after we returned from SSI we headed to Tifton for the afternoon to see Grandma for her birthday. Ellie made her an orange ake and was so proud. It turned out delicious. 

The cousins also came for a day visit recently. E. W. was captain of the "boat" 

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It's recital time! The girls didn't have their regular recital due to COVID, so we got a rescheduled one at the end of July. Emma was first up with ballet. 

Although they didn't get a stage rehearsal, they still looked beautiful. 

Sweet Emma

She did such a good job!

She just looked so happy during this dance ( or she has some serious giggles!) 

Jazz was next!

None fo the jazz pictures I took turned out that well, but they looked so good onstage in those cute costumes!

I'm not sure she remembered ALL of her dance moves, but she sure did have a good time up there. 

Tap for the finale!

Emma tapping onto the stage. 

This was her last year of tap, or so she says. I love watching them tap though. It is such a cool, very skilled form of dance that doesn't get as much attention as ballet and some of the others. 

Grandma and Papa with Emma

Mia, Dubs, and Emma

The beautiful, tiny, dancer. (and Mack photobombing with his mask still donned.) 

The girls performances were splint into 2 different nights to keep the crowds thin at the auditorium due to CDC guidelines. The entire recital spanned over 5 nights, but were short 1 hour performances each night. Even though the Bowers girls performed 2 separate nights, I did prefer this as opposed to the normal 3-4 hour performances. Ellie was Tuesday night and ballet was up first! 

These girls have grown so much in ballet. It was hard to believe how much they looked like the "big girl dancers" onstage. 

Ellie did so well! Once again my pictures were'nt the best. I didn't get my normal rehearsal night to get close and take good pictures. 

There was a lot more complicated moving around and individual changing of positions on stage this year. They all did so well!! 

Ellie's jazz dance was an "Alice in Wonderland" theme. It was a medley of several songs and turned out so cute! 

Ellie was a "Mad Hatter"

The queen didn't take her head off, thank goodness!

The grandparents made it back a second night in a row for round 2 of recitals! What would we do without these sweet folks! 

Even though it was a little odd this year, we were glad everyone could make the show and watch these girls who continued to work on their dancing despite COVID shutting down the studio for a couple of months. 

After Ellie's performance, the girls had a great time cutting and arranging the beautiful flowers from their grandparents. They put them in vases all around the house and in their rooms. 

Leonard is daily entertainment. 

This past weekend, we picked up Mack's new guitar. He has begged since he was 4 to take guitar lessons, so at almost 7, I finally relented. He is SOOOO excited! I can't wait to see how this goes.