Eli's 6th Birthday...

He spent his birthday going to his first day of Kindergarten but a sweet neighbor brought him a crazy cool present when he got off of the bus!!  

She had discreetly asked the day before what he liked to do...I told her he was an outdoors man.  He liked to go on hikes, fish, look for insects. She said that insects wouldn't be too appetizing on a cake so she decided to make a forest of trees, boulders and a little fishing spot.  This girl is in middle school...looks like she has a creative future ahead!

 So we invited her family back after dinner to have some cake...

and help us celebrate Eli's birthday...it was an evening filled with a front yard soccer game, tag, swinging and...

 and fun with friends!

First Day of School...

...Will was not happy about Micaiah going to school and he let us know most of the morning...

...when Micaiah asked to give him a hug and explained that the school bus would bring him back after his rest we saw a little smile...

...Will finally warmed up to the idea and brought Micaiah his lunch and his backpack...

...this is how you pass time while you wait for the bus...

...all the Mace boys waiting at the bus stop with Micaiah...

...first day, 5th grade, new school, first bus ride...

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...Eli went to Kindergarten for an hour with me on Monday...he enjoyed puzzles, crafts and a story with his teacher...

Today he went on the bus for a full day...what a way to spend your 6th birthday!  There pictures will be treasured for years to come...they capture his personality perfectly!...

...Thankfully he had his big brother for encouragement...

Joshua is starting 3rd Grade this year at home with me...we have a lot of fun things planned and we are praying that he flourishes...

and I couldn't resist sharing this gem taken this morning...

Multitude Monday #4195 - #4205...

^{"Praise the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.}

^{Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..."}   

Psalm 103:1,2

Today along with the Gratitude Community I list his gifts from this past week...

...hearing Will ask Eli..."Eli, did you sleep a dream?  I slept a dream."...

...Wes playing the guitar and singing Here's My Heart by David Crowder...

...meeting their teachers...

...seeing a friend from PT school who has a boy in Micaiah's class...

...fears relieved...

...day on the bay... 

...neighborhood end of summer pool party...

...first soccer games of the season...

...worship and a word that heals my soul and reminds me that He is near to the brokenhearted...

 ...prayers from a sweet friend...

...Eli's birthday trip to Hershey Park...

...daddy's turn...

...all three older boys on the Sooper Dooper Looper with Daddy...

 

Charleston Visit...

...Exploring Sunrise Park (shark tooth hunting, dolphin watching, water fountain fun)...

...fun with Poppy...

 

 ...looking for sand crabs...

...time with Aunt Susan...

...Eli as a motor boat...

Instagram Videos...

I took a few Instagram videos of the boys while in Charleston, SC last week...

This first video I need to set up first.  The boys were swimming and they started to hear the ice cream truck jingle...they got out, we gathered up money only to wait and wait.  My brother soon realized that it was in the other neighborhood.  No problem he said...I'll grab a skateboard, find it and tell her to come over here...so that's what he did.  Watch closely and you'll see my brother shuttling the ice cream truck to the boys...

This video is of Eli back at home...he set up a drum set inside and was playing and then declared "I'm taking this outside so I can make some money!"...

Day on the Bay...

We spent the day with friends on the bank of the Chesapeake Bay...

Joshua told Wes tonight at dinner that "it was paradise!"  The boys swam in the pool and the bay and did a little "crabbin."

Joshua perfected his belly flop...and his brother gave him a "perfect 10."

Caren taught the boys to catch crabs off of the dock...they anxiously checked the traps and screamed excitement when they caught one...

Eli and his shark tooth fossil...

the crew minus two...

one last glimpse...

yes...this day was good for my soul.