I can’t believe my last update was back in June, and now here we are, with July almost over.
This summer has flown by in the blink of an eye, filled with slushies, sunshine, and a whole lot of sweet moments and I have lots of photos to prove it!
Life has been full (in the best way) and before August sneaks up on me, I wanted to slow down for just a bit and share some of the fun (and meaningful) memories we’ve made along the way.
We’ve had some really fun family adventures this summer.
One of the highlights was taking the boys to an advanced screening of the new Jurassic World Reborn movie.
Not only was the movie action-packed, but we all got to ride in a real Jurassic World vehicle, which was such a cool experience.
We also got invited to an advanced screening of the new Smurfs movie, and that event was absolutely packed with fun activities.
Before the movie even started, the boys enjoyed a live DJ dance party, games with prizes, face painting, balloon animals, free popcorn and slushies, build-your-own flower bouquets, cotton candy, hair tinsel, a photo booth, posters, tattoos, and more.
It was like a mini carnival.
The boys had a blast.
As for the movie, it was a fun nostalgia trip for me, but they started to lose interest during some of the slower musical parts.
I always remembered the Smurfs as being about the battle between Gargamel and the Smurfs, but this version dives into a more magical backstory.
One line from the film really stuck with me.
Smurfette tells No Name Smurf, “That voice you hear in your head telling you you’re not good enough is a lie—and you’re the only one who can hear it. We all have one, but when you stop listening, it will go away.”
Such a powerful message.
That said, I didn’t love the use of “smurf” as a substitute for swear words or the actual swearing that was beeped out. It felt unnecessary, even though the kids in the theater thought it was funny.
Overall, we enjoyed the event and parts of the movie, but it’s probably not one we’d watch again.
To top it off, we celebrated the upcoming release of the new Smurfs movie with a super sweet experience—literally.
We joined the amazing team at Cakes With A Whisk to learn how to decorate Smurf-themed cakes.
The ladies teaching the class were so patient and encouraging as they walked the boys through each step.
I was so impressed with how well the boys did.
Their finished cakes looked perfect—decorated just the way they wanted.
And I’m pretty sure they ate just as many sprinkles as they put on their cakes.
It was such a fun memory to make with Liam and Connor, and I’m so grateful for sweet moments like that.
We had a great Fourth of July celebration with the whole family.
Everyone came over for a backyard barbecue, and we got to watch our town’s fireworks show right from our yard.
The next day, we kept the party going at my daughter’s house with pool time, pop-its, sand pudding, sprinklers, and fountains.
It was one of those summer days that just felt perfect.
We also attended church at the Oakland County Fairgrounds again this year, which is always a fun tradition.
Over 2500 people come together to worship God together!!
Most of the family joined us, which made it feel extra special.
But the best part was when Connor confidently told us he’s ready to be baptized.
That moment was such a blessing and made my heart so full.
At home, I’ve really been enjoying some quiet time on the deck this summer.
I found a new umbrella at Walmart that I absolutely love, and with all my flowers in bloom, it’s become my favorite place to sit.
I’ve spent a lot of mornings out there watching for deer and hummingbirds and just soaking in the peace.
Weekly Wins
My weekly win was signing up for fall semester college classes.
I chose a literature class on short stories and novels, and I’m actually looking forward to it.
Even though I really loved having the summer off, it feels good to be back to working on my degree again.
Favorite Find
My favorite find was a Tiger’s Eye brooch I spotted while antiquing with my sister.
It was only seven dollars, and I grabbed it so fast.
Apparently I’ve reached the age where I buy antique brooches now.
We had such a fun day together.
What I’m Watching/Reading/Listening to:
What I’m listening to lately is a song I randomly heard in the car called We Grew Up Together.
As someone who became a mom at sixteen, the lyrics really hit me hard.
I found myself crying after I got home and played it again.
It reminded me how much our kids shape us and grow us along the way.
God really does use our children to help raise us, too.
That’s a little peek into what life’s been like lately.
It’s been full of special moments, big and small—and I’m grateful for all of them.
What’s been going on in your world lately? I’d love to hear from you.
