Goodbye July!

A gorgeous week with lots of fun outside (in the water) and fun with friends - a great way to finish out the month of July.  We hope that everyone is doing well and are happy and healthy!

Ayson's friend spent the night and all three kiddos had fun playing in the trampoline and pool.

Wednesday evening pool antics.

Playing with Schleich horse sets and Mighty Beans!

Ayson showing off his backward jumps into the pool

A baby sunny that is growing outside of the mailbox garden.

The tire swing has been loved by both kiddos this summer.

Gorgeous lambs ear!

The sunnys in the foreground SHOULD be as tall as the sunflower stalks in the background BUT earlier this summer, deer ate many of the flower heads off the plants and the plants sprouted new heads - some continuing to grow taller while others remained short.

Addie joins us on garden walks in the morning and evenings.  

We broke out a special wine (to enjoy for our garden walk) to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary :)

A massive sunflower

The tomatoes look amazing even though we have not received much rain in July.

On Saturday, Amy and the kids attended a pool birthday party while Adam made progress on the kitchen project.  Both kiddos had a great time hanging out with friends, swimming, and running around :)

Saturday evening walk - which sunflower is taller?!?!

Perspective on the BIG sunflower head.

Another deer casualty that will hopefully have a gorgeous bloom.

On Sunday, we went boating with our friends on Otisco Lake.  

Oohh, who remembers the pain of going down a metal slide during a hot summer day?!?!

The kids had so much fun playing in the water!

Southern view of Otisco Lake.

Motoring to a new location to play :)

Hahaha, the kids were so tired that Ayson was too tired to tell Addie to go away (she was huddling next to him for warmth)

Summer Activities

The week seemed to fly with lots of activities during the week - Ayson spent the night at a friend's house and then went to another friends house for the day and Addie had a pool party with friends on Friday.  We spent Saturday catching up on chores and then went to Dwyer Park on Sunday.  We hope that our family and friends are doing well and enjoying summer!!

Addie taking a break and reading through the Highlights puzzle magazine.

Amy finally caught a hummingbird flying near the feeder - look to the right of the feeder post.

Friday afternoon was Addie's birthday pool party with friends (much better than a pool party in March!)

Addie wanted to do more activities BUT the girls just wanted to SWIM!!!

The water temp was about 90 degrees!!!  The girls did not want to get out of the water.

Group jump

Ice cream cake time:)

Addie wanted a pinata :)

Opening gifts

On Sunday we visited Dwyer Park and explored the creek (Ayson's requested activity- instead of kayaking)

Ayson pretending to push Amy into the creek

Amy trying to hug Ayson made Ayson back away 

Our crayfish wrangler

Our kids are 12 and 10 BUT they raced to the new (to them) playground equipment and had to test it out!

FUN times eating huge slices of watermelon

Addie with yet another crayfish!

Pool Time and Kitchen Progress

Warm weather equals plenty of pool time!  We had friends and family over Saturday and Sunday and in addition to swimming, Adam had help getting the new drywall on the ceiling!  We hope that our family and friends are making time to relax and enjoy summer!!!

Tuesday evening pool time

On Wednesday, Addie's friend came over to play for the afternoon.

The boys were SO excited to have subs for dinner :)

Addie making the spider webs appear at Ms Annie and Mr Bob's house during a watering event.

Pretty sunnies

Ayson had fun flying his drone in the evenings.

Adam pretending to be a chipmunk/squirrel

and digging a hole next to the game camera that neighbor Dave had set up next to his barn (to record evidence of a rodent digging under his barn:)

Gorgeous black-eyed Susan's and a sunflower are hiding the blueberry bush

Lambs ear

Ayson bought a small programable computer and turned it into a hamster that is smiling:)  Addie is in the background playing with her horse sets.

More pool time.

On Saturday afternoon, our friends came over to enjoy the pool.  We all had a great time.  Erik helped Adam with the dry wall while the kids continued to swim.

Saturday evening, Grandma Collene and Mike came over to visit and help Adam with the drywall.  Visiting with Sage.

While the big boys worked on the ceiling, Grandma showed Addie how to sew a rip in her stuffed animal. 

We now have a ceiling!!!

We visited the baby chicks that have grown up - they don't like to be held as much.

AND we got to see the guinea hens!!

Ayson trying to get close to a chicken

On Saturday, Adam also made Pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) and in addition to Grandma and Mike getting to try the soup, we had Ms Annie and Mr Bob over for a swim and dinner.   What a wonderful day spent with family and friends AND so much was accomplished on the kitchen/dining room.  Thanks to our family and friends that helped!!!

Addie and Ms Annie next to the armoire that Ms Annie gave us.

A robot picture that Ayson made for Amy back in 2015-2016 :)