June & July 2016

This post has a LOT of pictures!!!

With our vacations behind us, the rest of our summer looked like this...

Aaron

An ice cream treat "just because."

One of our favorite summer meals!

Playing with friends at a sand pit

Father's Day with their incredible Dad!

Derek is on night shift this summer, and while that's not what we would like, we're making the most of what it is. I know there's a lot of sacrifice on Derek's part, but I'm so thankful he's a hard working man who provides so well for us.

My friend Kristy and I knee boarding together!

The kids play out here at our friends' lake for hours.

We decided to set up our pool again this summer. It's always an ordeal to get it level-ish, and to patch up the new holes. But once it's all said and done, it's very worth it. :)

Kaleb & Aaron

Derek and Aaron laughing it up!

After the summer hair cuts comes ice cream!

Derek and I celebrated 19 years of marriage on June 21st! I can't believe it's been that long. It's funny though--I feel like we've always been together, and I also feel like we just met. Oh, how I love him!

Kaleb took our picture.

Derek went in late to work so he could take me out to dinner. :)

5 years ago I bought a cactus at the Farmer's Market for Aaron. It's grown a TON, and it has little "fingers" all over it. So we re potted the "fingers" and plan on giving them as gifts to our unsuspecting relatives. ;)

The BIGGEST news of the summer for Braylen? He bought his very first vehicle--a Ford Ranger!!!

I'm turning 40 later this summer. When Derek asked me what I wanted for my big birthday, I told him I wanted my "gifts" to be in my relationships. That first "gift" rolled through town in June on her way to Colorado with her family. Teri was one of my high school friends, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. I haven't seen her in years and years, and what a delight to spend the evening with her in this way! We walked several miles on the hike-bike trail on a beautiful summer evening and caught up on life. :)

We tried to get to the lake on weekends, even though sometimes Derek had to work and sleep. I'm very grateful to my in-laws for inviting us along with them!

Cousins Kaleb, Maisie, Aaron, Analise, & Sadie

Fun with chalk

Kaleb helped wash his brother's new truck.

I imagine they'll spend a lot of time together in this truck. :)

Kaleb & Ginger

At the end of June, fireworks sales begin. Aaron still loves to light them, day and night, and Kaleb joins in every now and then. Braylen is working in a stand again this summer.

Aaron

This year's free play in the park was, "The Wizard of Oz." I wanted to go, but nobody in my family wanted to come with me. Thankfully, my bff Dawn brought her daughter to town, and the three of us watched it together. It was very well done, and I pretty much knew every line and every song. I guess I watched that movie as a kid more than I thought I did!

Shawn and Rebekah came over one weekend and spent the night at our house, just like the good old days. :) Shawn helped Derek sight in his new rifle he bought for work, and the kids played at the house while Rebekah and I chatted the day away! We stayed up late playing dominos, since there wasn't any deer meat to process in the summer, haha! What a fun sleepover with our friends.

Rebekah and me, with a photobomber Devyn!

Cousins Danny & Kaleb

Braylen and Derek have done a lot of work on the truck.
It's saved Braylen a lot of money, and he's learning so much from Derek this way!

One of the highlights of our summer is going over to our friends' lake house and watching their fireworks display. Derek helps set it off--it's quite a production--and the boys like to help set it up. I just love all the visiting with friends and all the fun in the water!

Kaleb and Aaron help set up the fireworks display.

Back in town, on July 4th we did some fireworks at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Kaleb with the rest of the crew in the background

Silly cousins Aaron and Analise

My second "birthday gift" rolled into town on July 5th. Jessica, my friend from college, who was also my roommate our junior year--was on her way through our state and we met up for lunch. We couldn't remember when we last saw each other, but it might have been when Braylen was a baby?! We talked like no time had passed at all, and oh how blessed I am to have these relationships in my life.

Speaking of relationships, this summer a small group of friends and I are doing a parenting study. Our kids are all ages--upper elementary through college freshman--and we read the chapters and discuss the questions in the book. We are learning a lot from each other, even it it's just that we're not alone in our struggles as moms.

Another birthday surprise arrived on my doorstep this month--except it wasn't a person. It was an envelope filled with 40 more envelopes. My mom wrote a poem for me, and labeled 40 envelopes for me to open one day at a time as I counted down 40 days to my 40th birthday. Isn't she awesome??!! Each envelope contains a few puzzle pieces. I have a feeling I'm going to love the finished product.

July 7th begins my 40 day adventure!

More family time in our pool...

Aaron

Braylen has an idea.

Kaleb

Braylen

Aunt Sarena and family, with a photo bomber Braylen :)

Summer fun

Smores!

One morning, Braylen decided to go fishing with a friend. I think the boat is bigger than the truck??! It worked out though! :)

I love "catching" my kids being sweet with their cousins. Here's Aaron and Mikey.

Another favorite summer tradition of ours is to play in the river with our cousins. The river looks different every year, depending on water level and currents and all that. It was still lots of fun!

Sometimes summer is just for sitting around. :)

 A day at the lake with Derek this time! Braylen brought his friend Caden along.

Derek's happy place

Kaleb and Aaron enjoying the fast boat ride!

Such beauty

My parents came out in the middle of July this year, and we loved having them here for Cruise Nite! Another "good old days" memory. :)

DQ because why not?

Pedicures with my mom

Some of my favorites from our walk through Show and Shine during Cruise Weekend. Yes, it was hot and humid. But it's been worse!

My dad with Bumblebee, for my nephew Will :)

My #1 car fans, Braylen and my dad

My mom put up with the whole experience. :) What a trooper!

Kaleb loves this car.

Braylen does too. It's probably the only Dodge they both love!

Aaron's tastes are a bit different. ;)
My bookstore is in the background!

Kaleb's classic Chevy

One evening we took Mom and Dad to a golf course for family night. Mom and I rode around in our own golf cart and never golfed. But we had a lot of fun watching everyone else!!! As we were finishing up on the last hole, the huge sprinklers turned on and just about soaked us. It was hilarious!

My dad

Some of our crew

Kaleb!

Of course we had some fun in the pool with Grammy and Grampy. :)

Silly Aaron with Grampy and Grammy

All 3 grandkids in the pool--a special time for my parents

Working on his mystery adventure packet with Grammy

My helpers!

Grammy got the first cactus from Aaron's plant.

Too soon, it was time for my parents to head home. I just love their visits so much.

Another "just because" ice cream. This time with just Aaron.

More time at the lake, and Aaron brought Carson.

Kaleb and Braylen kneeboarding

I've still got it! :)

And that wraps up July. For the last weekend in July, Aaron and I are going to Colorado for his going-into-middle-school trip. That deserves its own post--next time! :)