We started out July with brunch over the weekend of the 4th. Someone (Taylor) was not going to be told that she had to wear red, white, and blue!
On the 4th, we took a field trip with the Jones' to Luray Caverns.
Who would have thought we'd celebrate July 4th in jeans and jackets?!?
It ended up being the perfect activity for a rainy holiday.
With their spelunker buddies, Melilla and Lydia.
Girl loves a gift shop.
She was willing to share her loot.
Ready in case it got dark on the way home!
More pool time. This time with Kaleb and Kathryn. The boys are not in the phase of wanting to pose for cute pictures though!
No words. Even Allie looks speechless.
On July 8th, my parents loaded up like the Beverly Hillbillies and took off for Florida with 4 kids and a dog.
The kids thought it was great.
Allie Cupcake was not thrilled to be left behind.
I was able to meet up with them on the 11th! A nice short, two-hour flight by myself....I think that beats 2 days in a full van. The kids would beg to differ.
There was a nature walk right across the street from the condo. We started out there a few mornings before it got super hot. It was always hot.
Daily, I repeat, Daily stop at the Kooky Coconut.
Everyone loved being in the water. Sometimes farther out than I liked!
These fish looked like they belonged in an aquarium but poor things were so slow, the kids kept catching them and keeping them for pets for the afternoon.
One afternoon we tried out the finger tattoos. You know how long it takes to put them on? A lot longer than it takes for kids to wipe them off when you finish!!
Not a bad view!
I enjoyed the calm water and not having to wonder when the waves would suck the kids under or make them (Taylor) cry!
Teamwork in action. Poor fish.
Serious about his business at the Kooky Coconut.
At least most times we walked the nearly 1/2 mile there to burn some of the calories!
Sink or float science experiments with MeMa in the pool. Nerds.
Chillin'.
These two have a blast together.
Ready to go!
Chase was not willing to cooperate for this picture. See his face in above picture....it was all downhill from there.
Field trip to John's Pass.
We took more than usual pictures of ourselves to send to daddy back at home!
The drawbridge went up while we were there. Free entertainment.
Arcade action.
Wild times for sure. We were almost out until after dark!
Send PaPa out for donuts they said.....good decision.
Many, many, many, many games of Uno after lunch.
I took the boys out to putt-putt one afternoon. Highlight of the course was the gator-feeding!
There was a little tennis action too.
And of course, baseball games.
Plenty of fun for the girls and boys.
Hanging out with the Dunedin Blue Jay.
Beach life is hard.
A Christmas in July baseball game at the Tampa Bay Rays.
Indoor games are the way to go in Florida in the afternoon!
The kayak fun began when Jason arrived. Four went out.....
One came back..... the rest jumped overboard. Taylor is no fool.
Another picture to make daddy jealous!
Nature walking!
Loaded up and headed home on a plane!
We made it back to town in time to wrap up Chase's summer basketball season. This was about the only picture I got. The games are exciting enough these days that I get too caught up in watching them!
Hanging out at home and filling my phone up with pictures of themselves.
Chase got to babysit Cheyenne one night. What else would he do but take her out for ice cream?
Poor Allie got to having a bad hair day that turned into a bad hair week. We took her in for a haircut.
Poor thing had too many tangles so she lost most of her hair and all of her dignity. She doesn't even look like the same dog.
Still gets plenty of attention though.
We spent a few July nights watching Savannah's all-star games.
Then we sent July out with a bang by loading up for camp! I was the dean for a 2-night camp for 1st & 2nd graders. It was an adventure for sure.
Chase with his cabin buddies. Three of these guys he already knew.
Taylor and her cabin crew. She knew Kathryn, but the rest were new.
First night getting ready for bed. These girls were 6 going on 15. Cracked me up.
Lining up for breakfast!
This game was a hit but I learned for the sake of our volunteers eyes, I should have used whipped cream instead of shaving cream!!
Savannah came to camp with us and stayed in our cabin. Taylor loved having her there!
All the girls stuck close by!
Campfire!
Camp games.
Camp was a blast, An exhausting blast. Two days was just enough!!
We ended July watching some of Kaleb's all-star games. One game had a rain delay. Chase used the extra water to create a new hairstyle while he waited for play to resume!
The girls helped to make sure he didn't get bored!
July was a jam-packed month with lots of fun but it went by too fast!
