July Fun

 The Fourth of July and our week in Weatherford were the big highlights of July, but we still squeezed in some other fun. 

We attended the Affair of the Heart, and the girls came home with some new hair clips. 

Nathan built a rocket. They shot them off when I was out of town for my girls' weekend. 

For Elisabeth's birthday this year, she asked to redecorate her room. We spent time shopping for new aceessories. 

We redeemed our summer reading program coupons for free cookies. 

Ruthann called and asked if the kids wanted to help her with some tasks to prepare for a summer missions trip to Colombia. My kids happily obliged. They're the best helpers. They packed bags with coloring sheets, crayons, and candy while I cut out craft projects. Elisabeth's whole countenance lights up when she is serving. She finds such joy in it, and she is dying to go to Colombia with the team when she's older. 

We celebrated their hard work with lunch afterward. 

The Millers invited us to a water balloon fight one afternoon. Classic summer fun!

Matt spent a weekend painting (and repainting) Elisabeth's room and moving furniture around. She and I are so pleased with how her new room turned out. It was a special project to do together. 

She's growing up so fast, and she loves her new more mature room style. 

Summer afternoons were filled with lots of neighborhood friend time. They had an impromptu spa day one afternoon. 

Summer Weatherford Visit 2024

 The day after the Fourth of July, we headed to Weatherford to visit family and attend the Evetts' church's VBS. It's a special summer tradition.

Matt joined us for the weekend which was a treat. He helped my grandparents with some things, and we visited his parents. 

We spent a couple of days in Cordell with our friends. The boys can't get enough Minecraft when they're together. 

There's always some sort of show being performed when the girls are together. 

These kids have all been friends since they were BABIES.

Our evenings were spent at VBS. The kids always look forward to it. 

It was these boys' last year of VBS. They'll be the best helpers next year. 

We also spent a lot of time in Weatherford helping out my grandparents since my grandma injured her back. I took them to some appointments, cleaned and ran some errands for them. While we were out running errands, the girls and I stopped for a treat. 

The kids also had lots of time to play at Granny and Grandaddy's house. 

On the last night of VBS, the kids performed some of their songs. 

There is such rich truth in all their songs. I always get emotional hearing them sing the truth of God's love for them. 

These kids happily posed for some pictures for us at the end of the night. 

Then they had to show off all their hard work for the week. 

We celebrated another great week with some ice cream. 

It was such a special week!

Fourth of July 2024

 The Fourth of July is one of our favorite holidays around here!

The kids planned to put on a Fourth of July concert and spent some time earlier in the week rehearsing for it. 

There's nothing sweeter than listening to kids worship their Savior. Precious!

The day before the Fourth, we met up with the Shondelmyers for snow cones and to trade kids for a sleepover. Brooke took the boys, and I kept the girls. 

These two play so well when they're together. 

The evening of the Fourth, everyone came over for a cookout.

These kids are fast outgrowing this little table we've had for years. 

Girls table!

And the boys were banished outside. They had to come in though because of the flies. 

After dinner, we forced the kids to take pictures before they could start blowing things up. 

The fence picture is an annual tradition. 

Apparently, we have a new member of our family, ha!

Love celebrating with these ladies. 

The Fourth of July is Elisabeth's favorite holiday. I love seeing her joy throughout the night. 

For the first time in I don't know how long, it rained on the Fourth. Bummer! But we made the most of it. 

During the rain, the kids performed their concert. 

Elisabeth had been working on the National Anthem in her voice lessons to prepare for the concert. 

When the concert was over, it was still raining outside, so we all played a fun game, that Elena taught us to pass the time. 

Finally, it had cleared enough to continue the fireworks fun. 

These holiday traditions are core memories for our family. So thankful for friends who are like family to celebrate with. Truly a gift!