The Rest of Summer

Sorry it's been so long!  Here are some pictures to round out the summer before we head back to school!

My mom took Eli to pet bunnies at a local feed store.  He is in love with all animals, and only Eric's strong resolve against rabbits has prevented us from bringing one of these guys home.

Eli's first time down the "big slide" at the Aquatic Center.

Fourth of July!  

This one is dark, but I love it.  That's Timothy, Charlie, and Eli.

My grandparents came to visit in July.  I love that Eli gets to know both sets of his great-grandparents.  What a profound impact they have all had on our lives!

Eli comes to work with me sometimes.  He is very helpful, as you can see.  :)

As a belated birthday present to Eli, we went to a Rough Riders game with my dad.

I love seeing the things they come up with to entertain themselves in the back yard.  This is the red wagon hoisted up into the tree house by a rope.  Fortunately no one was standing underneath when they let go!

Precious cousins.  Heather and Jonathan and Jacey and Cooper moved to Kentucky a few weeks ago, so times when all the cousins were together this summer before the move were extra special.

Eric's stepmom and sister came to visit this month and treated Eli to a day filled with movies, going out to eat, toy shopping, and train riding at the mall.  Eli liked that day very much.  :)  Here he is on the train at the mall.

Last picture of the cousins together this summer.  :(

Last weekend we took a really long day trip down to New Braunfels with the Heinzes and my parents.  We spend the day at Landa Park pool (a giant spring-fed natural pool where we spent many a happy day when we were kids) and then headed to Gruene for dinner and a little shopping.  Eric and Eli:

Everyone minus me at the Gristmill- probably the restaurant with the all-time greatest Texan atmosphere in the entire state.

Cowboy Eli.

Dad and Mom.

I love this one, and I love how much they love each other.

The three boys.

My boy.

And that wraps up the rest of summer!  Monday is back to school!  Though it means we're entering back into a busy season, I think we're all ready for the routine that the school year provides.  Eli is super excited, too, so that helps a whole lot!  

Love to you all!

Maine, June 2014

The three of us headed up to Maine to spend a week with my grandparents.  We had a blast, as always, and we're so thankful for the time we got to spend together.  A few pictures...

All good vacations include ice cream at every available opportunity.  An ice cream break at the wild animal park:

Still at the wild animal park- that's a moose behind Eli!

In Boothbay Harbor, waiting for the boat to take us out to the Cabbage Island clam bake.  The amount of pictures of Eric and me together has been increasing now that Eli can work the phone camera.  :)

On the boat going out to the island.  You might see this again as our Christmas card photo.  :)

Lobstah!  Eric ate four.

Island picture-taking.

Boating back to land.

Eli's favorite thing to do at the beach is DIG.

I love watching him on the beach- he is so supremely happy there.

Love them!

Annual sit-on-the-fence-and-look-out-at-the-ocean picture.

Hiking around White Lake.  The hike began with Eli saying, "How loooooong will this take?  My leeeeeeegs are tired," and ended with, "I love hiking!  It's my favorite thing to do in the whole world!"  The scenery won him over, I guess.  :)

My grandparents and Eli on the beach at White Lake.

We hiked up Pleasant Mountain.  It was some steep climb!  But the view was INCREDIBLE!  Look at those mountains behind us!

Hiland Lake.

I like this picture- happiness!  

It was another perfect, unforgettable week in Maine!

Day-to-Day, May 2014

These are slightly out of order, but here goes anyway...  

For Eli's birthday, instead of a party he requested that the three of us go to a Rough Riders game and stay at a "hotel with a pool."  Not lovers of throwing large parties, Eric and I happily agreed!  :)

Baseball game + nachos = Bliss for Eli!

At the hotel pool.  It was freezing!  

He spent most of his time in the hot tub swimming around. :)

We had cake and ice cream and presents with the whole family.

On Memorial Weekend the church had the annual church picnic.  The kids had a blast swimming, going on hay rides, doing the egg toss, fishing, and bouncing on the bounce house.  It's always such a fun kick-off to summer with our dearest friends.  

Charlie and Eli on the hay ride:

Savannah and Eli getting ready for the egg toss:

Graduation day!  

Eli's class did the greatest little performance for their graduation!  They recited all the verses they learned throughout the year, sang some worship songs for us, and told us what they want to be when they grow up.  It was precious!

Our graduate! 

Class of 2026.  :)

After graduation the school had field day, which was super fun.  All the games were water games (lots of bounce house type things, water relays, etc.), and the kids had a blast!

I love this picture of Eli and Tori.

At the beginning of the month Eli's class took a field trip to the children's museum in Commerce.  They had such a fun time!  This is Eli and his best friend from school, Victoria:

Such sweet friends!

This was Eli's favorite part- being inside a bubble!

"Splash Day" at my parents' pool, which is FREEZING!  :)

Looooooove these boys and their bond!

And that, unbelievably, wraps up May!  We have a busy and fun June planned, and then July is reserved for just catching our breath!  :)  Happy summer!