Chris is back!!

My dear friend Chris and her family spent the last year in Panama.  While we were excited for their adventure, we sure did miss them!  Thankfully, Chris and the kids have returned and last Saturday I got the opportunity to spend the afternoon catching up with her.  The time flew by but it was SO great to have that time - and know that we have more good times to come.  Here are a few photos from the afternoon.

Chris wanted to meet Gracie.   :)

Gracie, Marvin and Chris

Chris getting a welcome home hug from Mama.  

Daddy, Mama and Chris

We took her by Anna and Matthew's little house.  They are getting some things moved in.

I love their new shower curtain.  :)

July Wrap-Up

Here it is the last day of July.  We are in the midst of 'Wedding week' around here.  Lots to do and excitement is building!  But, as we look toward August, here is a final wrap up of the month of July.

Things have been so crazy around here this week that I completely dropped the ball on some serious photo ops.  :)  Monday we enjoyed lunch with Christian and Lisa who brought Hannah back from her weekend trip to St. Louis.  Monday night we had a big family dinner with everyone on the hill - including James who is home for Anna's wedding.  Tuesday evening we gathered for dinner at Julie's house.  Again... not a photo was taken.  I am slipping...  But, I have a feeling I will make up for it this weekend!  

Here are the few miscellaneous photos I have taken in July!

These two... they are so alike it is scary!

Dancing in the living room...

of course, they are dancing their way!

:D

I got tickled at Daddy's ingenuity in bringing home a long board for a final project at the little house.

pretty good for transporting!

Mom and Dad had their old concrete pad torn out and redone.  It is SO nice!

They even extended the sidewalk down the driveway a bit.

And Mama now has this lovely patio area at her back porch.

Brianna, Alaina and Cody came over one afternoon with their friend, Bethany.

Cody with 'Gus' - one of the little barn kitties.

Brianna and Jackson with 'Tait' and 'Brooklyn'.

Bethany with the final kitty (that I never can remember the name...) 

And of course, Alaina with Gracie.   :)

They decorated Gracie up with blue paint.

As Jackson says, you can sure tell this horse belongs to a girl!   :D

July Bonfire

The boys had their final summer bonfire last weekend.  Hard to believe we are at the end of summer, but, for all intents and purposes, we are almost there.  School will be starting up in just a couple of weeks!!  aaackkk!!!

At least the kids had a perfect summer evening for their party.  If you can believe it, they got chilly at the end of the evening.  Hard to believe it was July, not September.  Here are several photos but you can see an entire album of photos and video clips by clicking here.  

Jonathan hiding from the camera...   :)

Aviel and Adrian

Mia, Gigi and Samantha

Brianna and Jackson

Jillian and Aaron

Sebastian and Joey

Nils and Claire

Sweet Gigi brought me this lovely pendant.  

Mia and Gigi sharing a sweatshirt.   :)

Joey, Jackson and Brianna

Liam, Paige, Aviel and Adrian

Aaron, Joey, Jackson and Brianna

Aaron and Joey (we will miss Joey next year while he is away at college!!)

Gigi, Mia and Sebastian re-enacting the Titanic scene.  :)

Sebastian, Mia and Gigi re-enacting Aladdin and Jasmine on the flying carpet (Gigi).   :D

Paige, Liam and Alaina

scary spider Gigi found on the door!!!

Jackson and Brianna

Jackson, Brianna and Hannah

Gigi covered in marshmallow after taking Mia's double smore challenge.   :)

Mia and Gigi after realizing this was Mia's last bonfire before moving to Belgium.  :(

Rachel and Stephen arrived in town in time to come up and make a smore.

this one cracks me up

:)

Gigi, Jackson, Brianna, Jonathan and Adrian

Rachel and Hannah