Platte River Fish Hatchery: 8:20 AM Segment

Jacob and the other first graders at Lake Ann Elementary took a field trip to the hatchery last Thursday and Michigan This Morning was there filming.  Here is a link to the clip with Jacob in it  Platte River Fish Hatchery: 8:20 AM Segment

There are six different clips, if you want to see more of Aaron you can check it out here:
http://www.9and10news.com/story/19883633/mtm-on-the-road

Brody's comparison pics...

 

Brody's Preschool Class Photos...

 

 

 

Jacob has changed a ton in a year! And Fall pics...

Jacob's Kindergarten picture is on the left and this year's First Grade picture is on the right!  He's changed a bunch and like Grandma said "He's probably the only first grader with all his teeth!".
 

We had parent teacher conferences yesterday and Jacob is doing GREAT!  He scored above average on all his tests and well above average in math.  Mrs. Roper said one test in particular is a 48 question test and the average score is 7.  Jacob scored a 42.  She said she stood over his shoulder the whole time watching him take the test and her jaw hit the floor as not only was she impressed with the number of correct answers, she said she was floored with his strategies for determining the answer.  Just in case there was any confusion, Jacob did NOT inherit his math skills from his mother. 


The colors around here have been beautiful!  Today is the first day the areas around our house are past-peak, the temperature change and winds have really made them drop.  The areas kept warmer by the lake are just getting there.  This was taken yesterday by our house.
 

Mom and I took the little boys to the Pierce Stocking Drive overlook.  Impressive, as always!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colors changing around Little Glen Lake.  Still a lot of green around here since it's by the lake:
 

 

 

 

 

We've spent a few evenings on Lake Ann fishing:
 

The moon never looks as impressive in pics, but it was really something!
 

First Day of School! First Grade and Preschool!

I'm thrilled and relieved to say the start of the year this time is going SO MUCH better than last year.  Jacob's teacher loops, so he has the same teacher and most of the same classmates that he had last year.  I think this, and more maturity, have helped with an easier transition.   

 

Brody will spend two days at the co-op and one day of school at Jacob's school (he'll also be doing enrichment).  When I explained this to Brody, he was thrilled.  He has since realized that his one day of school at Jacob's school doesn't mean in Jacob's class.  He is very, very unhappy about that.  (But still enjoys school).
 

 

 

 

 

 

Our last time on the bay for the summer of '12...

Austin enjoying the sand bar!
 

And taking a shower:
 

It doesn't get any better than this:
 

This little guy loves his daddy:
 

 

Chillin' on the bow:
 

And some silly time:
 

Sometimes it is hard to capture the color of the water in the photos.  Sometimes its not.
 

The captain of our family:
 

Ludington part 2

It was a gorgeous and busy Sunday at the beach!
 

Good Buddies:
 

More good buddies!
 

BIG boat!
 

The deck hands!  5 boys between the ages of 2 and 6!
 

The Badger:
 

They have the nicest park right by the marina:
 

And free balloon animals!
 

When we arrived home we toasted to the end of a fabulous summer, to the beginning of a great school year and to being a DIAPER FREE household after more than 6 years!!