June memories

June was a busy month.  Thought I'd include a few photos.  I helped my sister Suzanne move into her beautiful new home.  Mom, Dad, and Russ were also able to come for the excitement.

In just one weekend, we got her all moved in as well as planted rosebushes and other landscaping. We organized her enormous closet and got her kitchen set up.

She's such a wonderful sister.  So glad I could be there to help and celebrate with her in her new place.  Good old Russ bought her a big flat screen tv as a house warming gift.  I have the best family!

Before the weather turned too hot, we tried out the new croquet set. 

Dayton seems to love it the most. I actually won this game (not sure how, since every other time I'm usually in the back with Danica and Devin bringing up the rear!)

We caught a fish at a nearby pond. 

Dayton had hoped to take it home and eat it, but it was a bit too small! 

We redid the family photos on the wall.  Here's the before... 

and after.  I've never done black and white before, but I think it turned out pretty good. 

The crepe myrtles are abloom. 

We kept McKay for a week after scout camp.  We also had a surprise visit from the Brunners and had Toby over for an evening. 

Danica lost her first top tooth.  It had been dangling around for a while.  She was so excited to have it out. 

Drew is on an indoor soccer team with several friends from the neighborhood.  Their team leads the league.

Dayton goes to EFY

Dayton and his friend Darin will be roommates at EFY in San Antonio this week.  The boys were excited, but since this is their first time, they didn't really know what to expect.  I'm sure they're having a fabulous time!

Father's Day

Danica sure loves her daddy.  She made him four Father's day cards. 

Dave got a bat bag.  He decided that he'd like to upgrade from what he'd been using: a plaid cinch bag made by my Grandma Shurtz that I used as a kid to pack clothes in for vacation.

He also got a croquet set.  I found a sturdy one.  We'll see how long it lasts.  We made yummy meals and tried to pamper him today.

Dave spent the evening playing Samurai Swords with the boys.

I'm so grateful for this good man!  He's a wonderful father and husband!

South Padre- heading home

Friday morning we got packed up and then spent a few last minutes at the beach.

Then it was time to load the car and head home.  

I loved this video that Dayton made.  It shows Dallin doing all the work while Dayton's goofing around trying to get the trash into the dumpster from the second story balcony.  (For his minimal efforts, Dayton got to do all of the unloading when we got home.)

Not so lucky this time.  Drew nearly gets beaned in the head with flying trash.

Until next year, bye South Padre!

Family Beach Photos

This family photo at the beach turned out as great as I had hoped!  A late night, last minute trip to Walmart ensured we all had white and kakhi.  I love the beach and am blessed with such a wonderful family.

South Padre-day four

Drew had a rough day three.  His boogie board broke, his goggles got lost in the ocean, and his suit was giving him a rash.  At first my attitude was that he'd just have to suck it up and that was life.  Then I thought about what a great kid Drew is.  He's so patient and always doing what he's supposed to be doing.  I didn't want him to remember this trip as the one where everything got lost or broken.  So he and I went shopping.  He got a new suit and board and look how happy he is!

Dallin is preparing the Coliseum.  We put in some fish and crabs to see if they would duke it out. No action at all. 

Boogie boards make great tables.  Lunch at the beach always turns into feeding the seagulls.

Danica will feed the seagulls all our food if I'm not careful.  With so many hungry teenage boys around, she had to be rationed!   She did score a box of goldfish from a kind neighbor.

Harvesting the crab for the Coliseum. 

Look how tall Dallin's getting.

My little pink beach bum. 

I love how colorful beach pictures turn out. 

That afternoon Dayton and Dave went bay fishing (none of the other kids were interested.) They had a good time. 

Dayton's fish.  He didn't get to bring it home and eat it since it fell in the ocean when the deckhand was taking it off the hook, whoops!

Dave also caught a fish, and the deckhand who lost Dayton caught two for him to make up for loosing the fish.  Dayton had to speak on Sunday and was able to use a fishing metaphor in his talk.   

After evening after dinner, we hit the town in search of something to do.  First stop, the mini golf course.  After looking at the prices, it was a unanimous decision to look elsewhere.  We decided that we'd try a a few stores and let everyone choose something that they'd like to buy.

We tried on pink sunglasses and hit several souvenir stores. 

We ended up at a grocery store.  Dallin and Drew decided to share a half gallon of blue bell ice cream.  Danica and Dayton got a few packs of gum.  Devin got a pint of ice cream. 

Of course, when we got home and the ice cream fest began, Dayton found a way to convince Devin to share.  Why is it that most of my videos are of Dayton?!