Summer 2026 ☀️
What a summer it has been! We packed a lot into these few months, with plenty of travel, new experiences, family time, and some exciting milestones for the boys.
The summer kicked off with Bob and the boys heading to Michigan to spend some time with MeMe and Papa. It was a great way to start the summer with family and enjoy lots of fishing and golf!
Both boys also spent a week volunteering at their old preschool, which they do every summer. It's always so much fun seeing them back in a place where they spent so many years, this time as the big kids helping out.
Then came our big European adventure with my family, 15 of us! We spent two days in Venice, where we experienced a pretty intense heatwave (and learned very quickly that air conditioning isn't a given in Europe!). From Venice, we boarded our cruise and traveled through Croatia and Greece, visiting some incredible places and making memories we'll be talking about for a long time.
After Europe, the boys and I headed to Colorado and the boys did zip lining for the first time! It was a fun change of scenery and another highlight of the summer.
Back home, the boys kept busy with their own goals and activities. Parker set several personal goals for himself this summer and worked hard to accomplish them. It was really rewarding to watch him set his mind to something and follow through. Seeing that kind of determination in him has been one of my favorite parts of the summer.
Cooper attended his annual fishing camp with a group of friends and he also had a pretty exciting accomplishment of his own — he is on golf team at his school! We're so proud of him for being brave and trying out this year.
We also managed to fit in 3 water parks, bowling, Top Golf, Rock Climbing and several parties and a quick weekend getaway to Captiva to celebrate our neighbors' birthdays. A little beach time, some fun with friends, and a chance to slow down together was the perfect way to round out the summer.
And just like that, summer is over and we're back into our school routine. The boys have officially started 8th and 10th grade! It's hard to believe how quickly they're growing up.
From Michigan to Europe, Colorado to Captiva, volunteering at their old preschool to setting and accomplishing personal goals, this summer gave us a little bit of everything — family, adventure, travel, growth, and lots of memories we'll cherish.
Here's to another great school year! ❤️
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| Happy 8th Birthday Bear! |
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| Memorial Day Party at our House - Older boys! |
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| Younger Boys! |
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| Michigan! |
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| Coop & Papa |
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| At MeMe & Papa's house |
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| In his happy place! |
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| Papa, Cooper & John |
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| Bob and Parker |
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| Water park with friends! |
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| Another water park! |
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| Bowling - Parker, Parker Cooper, Ben & Will! |
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| Top Golf - Coop, Christian & Sean |
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| Parker lays in the most obscure positions! |
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| Venice, Italy |
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| Venice Gondola |
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| Cousins - Dubrovnik, Croatia |
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| The fam! |
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| Coop, Park, Hudson |
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| Athens, Greece |
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| Santorini, Greece |
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| Uncle Brad and the boys! |
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| Park |
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| Coop |
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| Grammy & Geep with the grandkids! |
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| Another water park |
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| Colorado! |
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| Zip lining! |
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| Parker & Piper! |
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| Park and the triplets! |
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| Fishing Camp - Coop, Ben, Sean & Christian |
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| Captiva! |
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| 10th & 8th |
