Mid July Sunflowers

Our family thrives on summertime!   There is just something about it that refreshes us and makes us pause even in the craziness of life.   While summer seems to slow us down it always seems more busy than it should be.   

She looks more and more (and acts too) like a teenager ever day.  I am relishing these moments and more often than not these are the best days of our lives! 

My brother's kids are back in Tennessee and we have seen them every weekend!   We love it!!   We love them!!    It was a long 5 months with them in Toronto even with a visit in the middle to see them.   We are so happy they are back! 

Sunflowers in July are one of my favorites.   So Gabe and I took the kids while Jimmy grilled dinner for us.  Thanks love!   All but one of the kids was excited.   The other one (Maggie) did not see the excitement of it all and was a bit grumpy that we were there.  O well!

Wrapping up June!

As we wrapped up June we enjoyed time with family.

Grammy and Papa have taught the girls how to play dominos.  They have played almost every time they are over.  

priceless!  Maggie wakes up almost every morning and her first thing she wants to do is snuggle Bella. 

 Gracie and Silas have a sweet special bond.   They are usually inseparable when we are all together.

These girls love to get the dads in the pool to play! 

I adore this man!  He makes life a joyful adventure! 

4th of July - Ohio

We had a wonderful long weekend home in Ohio to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday and visit with family and friends.  It was impossible to capture every moment or every person we saw, but we have captured those moments in our memory.  We look forward to visiting again.

Gjysh and KK took the kids to the Toledo Zoo for the day.   Uncle Gabe and Aunt Kat were enjoying a quiet day and we were not driving up until later that day.   

We brought our bikes up and rode I think every day.  Maggie's bike had been having issues with its change, so we surprised her and bought her a new bike on our way up.  

We did a few Mr. Freeze trips.  Okay, 3 I think but when you only get it when you are home in the summer you have to enjoy it when you can.

We enjoyed breakfast with my Grandma Sutton and cousins.

The great grandkids with Grandma Sutton. 

we snagged her golf cart and took the kids out for a ride. 

Then it was off to see the horses and the lake.  

Lake time! The girls made  comment that we needed to come live up at the lake during the summer.  Jimmy laughed and told them that was how i did grow up.    It was such a sweet time and brought back so many fun memories that the girls got a glimpse into. 

my grandma Whitmer makes the best pies! So of course we had that as dessert after dinner. 

Uncle Marty was nice enough to allow us time boat time.  Dad drive, mom spotted and the kids did some tubing! 

We did a few quick family pictures before Dad's birthday party.  It was fun to see so many family friends at the party too.

I am so thankful for the brother I have and that they live really close to us!   

A few other fun pics!

I was able to meet up with Holly for coffee.  Holly was my first manage in banking the year I spent at 5/3 bank.   

peas in a pod! 

We spent the afternoon with Sophia and Michael at the art museum.  

4th of July fireworks are always our favorite.