2015 update continued: Summer Months

July and August are often the fastest months of the year. It is the block of time that I try to cram as much as possible into. Between attending the required summer professional development, swimming, crafts, sleep overs, family dinner, quilting, and quick trips, the month flies by. Here is a glimpse of July 2015.

1. Celebrating the 4th of July at Aunt B's house with a BBQ, fireworks, and swimming.

2. Watching nature in the backyard; complete with Charlotte and a family of wrens in the watering can.

3. Science with the grand girls.

4. Finishing quilts I started years ago.

 5. Watching the wrens prepare to leave the nest.

6. Painting with the grand girls.

7. A quick trip to Ohio and a chance to photograph one of my earliest quilts.

8. Quilting for Mom.

9. Celebrating Mom's birthday.

10. Acting silly on a shopping trip. (Sophie being a store window display.)

11. Sleep over at Mimi and Poppy's house.

12. Crafts I've seen on Pinterest.

13. Lazy afternoons coloring.

14. More swimming at Aunt B's house.

 15. Hosting weekly family dinners.

16. Dreading going back to work. Retirement can't come soon enough.

2015 update continued: Sophie's Birthday Celebration

Leslie and Gerson hosted a water slide, piñata, and cupcake party for Sophie Lyn's birthday. And, as was the case with many little girls this year, it had a Frozen/Olaf theme.

Yummy cup cakes...

refreshing water slide...

pin the nose on Olaf...

whacking a piñata...

more whacking...

and more whacking...

and yet more whacking accompanied by frustration...

Uncle Scott to the rescue!!

What would a piñata be without Gerson acting silly...

like father like daughter...

digging in...

eating ice cream while the presents are opened...

Happy Birthday, Sophie!

2015 update continued: June Birthdays!

Our family is probably not all that weird, and if I took the time to figure this all out genetically and scientifically, it wouldn't seem strange at all. However, it seems like we load up certain months with birthdays! June is a particularly busy month. Ron, Scott, David, Jamie, and Sophie all celebrate birthdays in June. As part of the birthday celebrations each year, our family goes to Round Rock, Texas to watch the Round Rock Express play a game.

We were just a wee bit concerned that the game would be rained out. The skies in Texas can be ominous just before a storm. Luckily, there were only a few sprinkles and the cloud cover kept the temperatures fairly low.

Maggie cheering the team on...

The twins looking for the team mascot...

Seth totally engrossed in the game while Maggie smiles for the camera...

 Between cheering on the team, taking pictures, eating from the concession stand, shifting seats, and making playground runs, the night passed quickly. Mid way through the game, we got to see the names of our birthday people up on the jumbo screen!!

Happy Birthday to the Searls Clan!

Group shot to include Becc'a new friend...

Awwww; holding hands...

Come on, Scott... Let me see that smile...

Leslie and Gerson know how to smile... Scott and his glare...

Sophie with blue lips and Gerson doing I don't know what...

YIKES! What did that kid eat??

Scott being serious...

Seth and his pinkie swear to never smoke! 

Jamie and the twins...

Almost there....

Ha, ha! Gotcha smiling!!

Rebecca and Ryan...

Seth being photo bombed by Poppy...

Poppy ad Sophie...

Maggie and the mascot... his name escapes me at the moment...

Scott trying to hide the smile... Yes, he is odd.

I can't remember if they won or no; but a great time had by one and all. 

Can't wait for next year.