In anticipation of our school year beginning, Luke took Thursday and Friday (August 18 and 19) off work. We didn’t schedule much for our time together, but just had a really great time relaxing and doing some special things with the kiddos before we get back to the grind.

On Thursday, we slept in and had big ol’ breakfast (pancakes, bacon, sausages, blueberries/whipped cream, cantaloupe, apple juice…YUM). We hung out here, and then after naps, we headed to town. We had dinner at Qdoba (thanks, KDL, for your awesome summer reading program prizes!), and then went to see some friends at the hospital who just had their first baby.

Afterward, we visited East Grand Rapids for their “Taste of East Grand Rapids” event…Really, the kids just enjoyed getting inside a real firetruck and playing in an inflatable.

And then we ALL enjoyed some Jersey Junction ice cream. Double YUM.

Caleb had Birthday Cake ice cream.

Grace had Play Doh ice cream.

Ava and Jaden shared Superman ice cream.

I had Royal Coconut and Chocolate ice cream.

And Luke – who is obviously so thrilled with my picture-taking propensities – had Deer Tracks in a homemade waffle cone.

We all waddled home then, enjoyed a good night’s sleep, and the next day…