Happy Tuesday from Nantucket, friends!
Summer has officially begun for the Shull family 🙂 .
Yesterday, Andrew, Smith, Ashby, Mades and I made our way from McKinney to Nantucket. Kensington is at cheer camp right now, so she will join us later, but the rest of the gang has settled on in. Smith started back to work today, the girls have their camps and summer fun all lined up, and Andrew and I are happy as clams being bACK in our happy place.
Can you believe this is our fourth summer already?! Each one has been so special, so much fun, and a little different. I imagine this one will check all of those boxes too. This first part is going to give us all a bit of whiplash with some back and forth between Nantucket and McKinney, but we will get ourselves all settled soon and get to stay put. (Woohoo!)
Grab your coffee each morning and enjoy the summer season with us 🙂 .
I am always so so so grateful when I get to share bits of my life with you.
As I get my life together today, I have THREE POSTS for our Tuesday! First up, I have MEAL PLANNING TUESDAY as well as all the details behind FROZEN and the FIRST AND LAST 2025-2026 EDITION!
And I will be bringing back SUMMER SATURDAYS, so I hope you join us for those each weekend too!
This school year was a unique one for us. Four kids, two different public school districts, one private school, a whole lot of driving, and a whole lot of FUN!
Everyone told us that junior year was the hardest, and Kensington would agree. Her academic plate was full and her cheer calendar kept her busy. She LOVED being a part of MISD’s PALS program and working with elementary schools every day this year. That was without a doubt the best part of her day. From YoungLife to Student Council, she was a busy bee. She is SO excited to be a senior next year!
Sophomore Smith tackled varsity football and four AP classes this year. We have laughed so much about the fact that AP Physics and AP Calculus were a breeze, but after two full years of Spanish, we doubt he could order off a Taco Bell menu. Bahahaha! It’s good to know your strengths and weaknesses in life. This boy loved his school year, loved his sport, loved his friends but was without a doubt the MOST excited to head to Nantucket. He plans on spending every day on or in the water.
This year, it was Ashby London’s turn to start a new school! I’ve said this before, but Ashby is always surrounded by friends. Whether we’re in McKinney or Nantucket, she just always has “her people”. She found her people at Lovejoy’s middle school too and absolutely loved it. We are just SO proud of her. Middle school can be really hard, but Ashby has absolutely thrived. From cross country to track, she showed up every single day and worked so hard. It’s hard to believe that this girl only has one year left of middle school before she’s in high school too!
And Miss Madeley rocked our family’s final chapter of elementary school. She had a wonderful class and some very precious teachers. I teared up when we left the awards ceremony on the last day because we will miss her school so much. She received the award for always having JOY and her teacher quoted Nehemiah 8:10 when she spoke about Mades, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”. JOY is certainly her strength, and we can’t wait to see her carry it with her as she moves on to the 6th grade at her new intermediate school in Lovejoy.
We have certainly had our fair share of years when we limped to the finish line. The honest truth is that not every year is a good one, but this one was sweet.
We are in full summer mode now. Thank YOU for stopping by each day and being a part of it with me.
Don’t forget to check out MEAL PLANNING TUESDAY as well as all the details behind FROZEN today too!
Cheers to SUMMER, friends! I’ll see you tomorrow! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
What a year! Thanks for sharing! Time to enjoy summer now!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Diane Moore says
What a blessing to end feeling good about each child’s school year.
Seeing Ashby’s picture it popped into my head that many years ago she looked at a picture of the two of you and said, we have the same smile, Mom.
Maybe you have the same heart 💞
Mix and Match Mama says
Ashby is just so precious. So, so, so precious 🙂
Taylor says
I am so excited for Nantucket content!
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
Happy Summer to the Shulls! I love that Kensington did Young Life! What a great ministry!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Mix and Match Mama says
She has LOVED it!
Jaime says
Is Ashby staying in the same School? What do you think is the reason that both Ashby and madeley wanted to go to lovejoy instead of the school your districted to?
Mix and Match Mama says
She is! They have kind of taken their own paths, but as a family, we really love that Lovejoy is a smaller district. We have loved McKinney, but it’s a really large district with three big high schools and five big middle schools…there is something we really like about a district that’s a bit smaller.
Paula Hobbs says
It’s so neat that all four kiddos have found “their place” and had a great year. I know it has made your mama heart happy! Cheers to another summer on Nantucket!! I can’t wait to follow along for the fun!
Becky G says
My sophomore son has the same experience with the AP classes vs. Spanish… Ha! We are celebrating that his language requirements are over. Enjoy your summer!
Mix and Match Mama says
We are too, we are too! Bahahaha!
Lindsey says
Hi Shay! Always love reading your daily posts and seeing how quickly your kiddos are growing! I have a bit of an “off-topic” question – we recently bought a second home in Colorado (we’re also in DFW) and plan on spending a large chunk of the summers there. Any tips for acclimating to this new routine as a family (new place, away from friends, pool, etc.)? We are easing in this year with 3.5 weeks, but hope to spend more and more time there each summer. This mama heart is so excited for the family time and memories to come.
Mix and Match Mama says
Congratulations! Colorado in the summer is spectacular! I will say that for us, it took time. This is our fourth summer, and it certainly has taken time to find our little community here. We have made an effort to get to know neighbors, have people over, invite people to dinner/drinks/out and about. My kids have met friends through work and camps and classes…all of those things plus, kids in our neighborhood too. It’s just taken time. The BEST part though has been all the family time. I will never, ever regret all of these days we’ve had together. The good, the bad and the ugly of them, have been a gift. You’ll never regret it either. xx
Kristen says
Do the older kids miss out being with their friends all summer?
Mix and Match Mama says
Of course, they love their friends in McKinney, but they have really found their place and people here too. They get the best of both worlds.
lee ann vicary says
Loved reading your little blurb about each of your children – it reminded me of a Christmas newsletter. You could have done first and last day pics of you and Andrew — I’m betting some of those tough school years the stress of your children’s worries would have shown and this year it would have shown the joy of knowing you are making the right decisions for all your kiddo’s even if you are thinking electric cars or maybe helicopter cars are starting to sound like good options. Congrats on most of you making it to your happy place. I hope things go swimmingly for you all.
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh goodness, I should have! Thank YOU for your kind words!
K.K. says
Congratulations to all the Shull kids!! It’s been so so fun over the years to see into their lives and how they’ve grown. I can’t wait for all the fun on Nantucket this summer. 🙂
Lauren Schuermann says
I might have missed this, but have y’all been doing college visits? I would love to hear more about senior year stuff coming up!
Mix and Match Mama says
Agh, there are so many things! This end of high school stuff is no joke. We are going to deconstruct that after we’re done with the process. We are keeping some of this to ourselves until she’s all set (and then Smith is right here behind her!).
Lauren Schuermann says
Totally get that!!! Good luck! Can’t wait to read your follow up in the future!!
Kristen says
I would love to hear your experience on this too since I am entering the phase of college tours!
Nicole says
You should do some college tours in the Boston area!
Lisa N says
You and Andrew have truly done a remarkable job with these kids! I love how you have helped and encouraged them in all of their accomplishments❤️ Now enjoy your Summer on Nantucket! I’m here for it😊
Mix and Match Mama says
You’re too, too sweet. Happy Summer!
Yvonne says
Happy Nantucket summer Shull Family! I am here to follow along! 😃 Love seeing your kids school recap, geez the time sure flies by! Thank you for including us on your journey!
Heather S says
Happy Summer, Shull fam! Can’t wait to follow along on with your ACK adventures this year!
Beck says
Love hearing that Kensington did Young Life! I’m a 20 year volunteer in our area. Our kids are long gone but the impact it has on kids in the community keeps us involved!
Have a wonderful summer. Looking forward to enjoying Nantucket through your blog!😄
Mix and Match Mama says
Wow! God bless YOU! I can’t imagine the impact you had on so many children!
Debra says
Love this post – such a great update on the kids. I am still laughing at Smith and the Taco Bell menu line! Good for Smith though – calculus was so hard for me but Spanish came easy – I would have rather been good at calculus! Have a great time on Nantucket!
Mix and Match Mama says
That boy is crazy smart. Ironically, he can’t say that sentence in Spanish. 😉
Kacey says
I can’t believe it’s already your 4th summer on ACK!! If you’re going to be around for food & wine, be on the lookout for my friends Kim & Ryan Boya! They’re the owners of Cello in the Berkshires =)
Lauren McClain says
Young Life! So fun that Kensington has gotten involved! YL had a huge impact on me in high school and I still volunteer with them to this day! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy summer on Nantucket!
Karen in Virginia says
Thanks to you, I am now on my 6th Elin Hilderbrand book in a row. I now wish I was on Nantucket! No wonder you like it so much! Have a great summer, Shay. I’m going to pretend I am up there while I am down here in the DC area! Thanks again for all you do.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yay! Have you read Blue Bistro or The Identicals? Those are two of my favorites!!
Karen in VA says
The Blue Bistro is on hold over at my library. Going to get it tomorrow. I have read The Rumor, The 5 Star Summer, The Island, Silver Girl, and Winter in Paradise. I am currently reading A Beautiful Day. I absolutely loved The Rumor and 5 Star! My two favorites so far…so happy to be pulled into her stories. Thanks again!
Carley says
Where is Smith working this summer in ACK? Can’t wait to follow along on y’all’s summer!
Mix and Match Mama says
He’s had the same job the last three summers. I don’t share where my kiddos work just for safety and privacy reasons, but he loves his job and is always happy to go back each season. 🙂
VA says
NO PICS OF MADES
Mix and Match Mama says
You must have missed her! She’s there 🙂
Becky says
Happy summer, Shull’s! Looking forward to your summer adventures! We’re off to Ireland for 3 weeks in July – any tips? Can you please link where K’s t-shirt is from in her last day of school picture? Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s Free People. Have so much fun in Ireland! Wow! You are going to have the best time! My tip is to eat everything. The food is delicious 😉 .