August 2024
*Warning: Spoiler!
*Warning: Spoiler!
August, 2024:
This omnipotent author has admittedly fallen behind on his lifelong task of chronicling the many adventures of the magnificent Makhlina-Ecksteins. So, in an attempt to efficiently catch the readers up, he has decided to detail the events of August through a series of snippets, pictures, and captions that will best relay the important aspects of August 2024.
Please proceed at your own pleasure...
Evan finished up his summer work at the Stern Center having created many positive memories and left many positive impressions along with an interest in potentially repeating the experience again in the future.
Aleks continued her explorations of pottery and dark room photography with a week-long camp at the Burlington City Arts Studios.
Tanya had a couple of "appointments" that week involving lunch dates with Aleks in between their patient procedures / artistic activities (respectively).
The Makhlina-Ecksteins (along with the parental Ecksteins) spent a long weekend together in Wells, Maine. The trip included some time at the trio's favorite beach (Drake's Island Beach), some Go-Karting, a human maze, more time at their favorite beach, relaxing in the Air BnB's hot tub, and a belated birthday celebration for Aleks! All in all it was an amazing experience, topped off with some delicious seafood, buckets of Rum Punch/Margarita, and birthday cake for breakfast!
[somehow, still no Congdon's doughnuts though...until next time.]
Aleks spent a majority of a week at her second ever sleep away camp, which involved camping in a tent, climbing up a cliff, rappelling down a waterfall, swimming in said waterfall, caving in a...cave, and swimming in Lake Dunmore. Also included: smores and other campfire meals. As the only girl who participated in the camp it is safe to say that she CRUSHED IT!!!
While Aleks was away Evan got a chance to reconnect with his longtime mentee, Ali, who recently moved back to Burlington.
Aleks & Evan "swapped outfits" for a day...
Rogue continues to live her best life...
Aleks and her friend Gwen just casually getting ready for a quick swim at the local lap pool.
Very sophisticated.
Evan, in a craze of excitement, treated the family to Starbucks on their way home from camp one day in celebration of the highly anticipated grand reopening of their local Starbucks.
Aleks approved on the new aesthetics.
Evan and Tanya *WON* the Mexicali D2 Championship for the Summer Season with the rest of the Shinkickers!!!!!
Aleks was present and provided full moral support to cheer them through to victory!
Aleks continued to be a total rockstar in preparation for the upcoming school year with two new booster shots and some additional stabbings for blood samples just for good measure. She handled it like a true champion!
She also continued to perfect her mastery of the most decadent breakfast pancakes AND decided to go for a slightly new look this school year by rocking out some absolutely adorable curtain bangs!
No one has ever looked better!
And as it is with all things, it was time to say, "Goodbye to the old and in with the new" as Aleks revamped her bedroom (big time!). She upgraded from her twin bed to a double bed, swapped rooms for more spacious living quarters, got a brand new set of sheets (and overall bedroom style), and built most of the new furniture entirely by herself to boot!
Within the process of the move, Evan and Tanya also acquired a new futon for the, now new, spare room to add to the comfort and coziness of the space.
With all of the prep finally completed, Aleks (with her new bedroom and haircut) was officially ready for 6th grade. And at the end of August, that is exactly what she did. The first week of school, for both Evan and Aleks, went pretty smoothly and was topped off with Aleks' first ever Middle School Girls Soccer tryouts (in which Evan was present as an assistant coach)! They are both looking forward to the school year and, in particular, the Fall soccer season (together!).