Baseball~by Beth

We enjoyed watching the Miracles play a baseball game last night.  Though they lost, it did not lessen our fun.  The younger children were able to participate in a Summer reading program through our local library and each earned 2 tickets to last night's game.  Since four of them read for these tickets, we all went free.  The bonus was that it was also Ladies' night and all the girls in our party received 2 vouchers for a free drink.  I used one for water for me and the shared the other voucher with Stephen.  The other joy was bumping into friends and reconnecting.  After the game the children could run the bases and then get some candy at home plate.  Some of our last Summer time fun, as Monday we begin school. 

Play ball!

I should have switched to sports setting for this shot.

Stephen gets his candy

We took one last shot down on the field before heading home.  Johanna even got a fly ball during the game as a souvenir!

July 2014~by Beth

July always begins with the Independence Day celebration.  Again the children rode in the bike parade at the Pine Island parade.  This year Stephen joined the troops riding his new (thrift store new) bike that he got for his birthday the week before.

Emma, Johanna, Abby and Stephen

After the parade we had two families over for games and a cook out.  After they left the children decorated the driveway with chalk art while waiting for it to get dark so the boys could set off fireworks.  In our area we don't drive any where for the big stuff.  We can see huge fireworks exploding in the sky around us in at least 5 or 6 different directions.

right side of the driveway

left side of the driveway

  In the evening our a.c. for the back side of the house went out.  Jon watched a bunch of youtube videos and figured that the capacitor had gone bad.  We replaced it on Monday and sure enough, the air worked again.

After the 4th, the children completed their summer golf program with a party.  Here are a few of our players.  David, Christiana, Charity, Emma, Johanna and Abby participated.

Christiana, Emma and Abby

This month could be summarized by the word: PROJECTS.  We fixed several car issues, including Jon fixing the a.c. on the Rodeo with junk yard parts.  With that work being done the driveway got pretty dirty so the girls are using the pressure washer today to clean up, now that the car work is done.  We also did a ton of painting.  It started with some water spots on the ceiling in the entry way that came from driving rain the previous summer and got under the ridge pole.  But, trying to paint the entry demanded that we also cover the living room and kitchen as they are one ceiling.  As long as we were at it we did the kitchen walls as well.  That was a major project with all the prep work, but we had all the children helping, and it looks so clean and nice.  Next we tackled the boys' bedroom.  I have never liked the dark blue in there, and we chose a lighter gray to change to.  Of course, painting in there made "clean up the room" necessary.  We washed down the beds, turned mattresses, washed all the bedding, cleaned up the computer area, closet and shelves.  It looks so nice now.  We also did the baseboards and trim with the eggshell color we use on the trim in the rest of the house.  That same week we also painted the window seat, and the trim below it, and the boy's bathroom.  They never liked the yellow in there, and we got a gallon of mistint paint from Sherwin Williams for $2 in a nice, light blue.  Jon and I did that whole job ourselves.  The next day was cow appreciation day at Chickfila, and we all dressed up for the event.  Here we are.

Before

 

 

The next week the girls all got their hair cut by a friend of ours.  The older three wanted longer hair so even though they got a lot cut off, it does not looks like it in the picture.  But Johanna donated her hair and we cut off over 12 inches of her hair once it was all trimmed up.  She looks so cute.

After

June 2014~by Beth

This month began in Ohio.  Here is the month in photos.

Charity, Emma and Christiana swim in Grandma's pool

Stephen caught a bug and had a temperature.  Here he is "washing away my fever."

Our 30th anniversary

Enjoying the oldest kiddie park in the U.S.

Christiana, David, Abby and Johanna riding the kiddie roller coaster

Back at the Creation Museum on the way home

A sign at the Creation Museum

Father's Day lunch

 For Stephen's 6th birthday we went to Bass Pro
Shop and took advantage of a number of the free classes and activities for kids.  The children learned about archery, camping, hunting and water safety.  The activities they participated in included archery (real for the older ones and nerf for the younger crowd), casting, shooting, and crafts.

Stephen shot a bullseye the very first shot.

Just before the 4th of July celebration we also painted the ceiling in the kitchen, living room and entry to cover some water marks.  We also did the kitchen walls.  It was a family job and we all helped the entire day.  We are having a great Summer.