Sunday, June 30, 2013

June 8, 2013

Elise got to spend her 7th birthday with her cousins! We had such a fun day!

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We started the day with French Toast made by Aunt Susanne – why I have a picture of Becca and not Elise on her birthday, I do not know. I also don’t have pictures of the decorations! Mike & Susanne even bought streamers and balloons and we decorated their house after the kids went to bed the night before her birthday. You can see a few streamers behind Becca’s head there…

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The cousins had a lot of fun together reading jokes from joke books and telling the good ones to the adults. I love how they all get along, even with the age range.

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And of course there was lots of cuddling with the new niece and then swimming at their friends’ pool I love these pictures – what joy on their faces…plus hilarious dance moves from my nephew while he was waiting to catch a ball jumping into the pool…

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In the evening we headed to Farrell’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor as a treat for Elise’s birthday dinner and dessert. They make a HUGE deal out of birthdays there…a free sundae and they sing and sometimes dance for the birthday person, or even make the birthday person dance. Funny…except that Elise was horrified at the prospect. She DID NOT want them to sing to her and she was so upset she could hardly enjoy herself, even after we promised to ask the waitress not to sing. Eventually she warmed up and had a good time, and the rest of us enjoyed the fun atmosphere and good food and delicious ice cream! We did convince her to let US as a family sing the Happy Birthday song when she got her sundae and she even wore a paper hat made from the coloring pages!

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

June 7, 2013

Our first full day in Redlands was loads of fun. How could it not be with sunshine, nephews, and a sweet new baby niece to get to know? Pictures are from my camera, my phone, Sarah’s camera, Bethany’s camera, and were taken by several different photographers ranging in age from 4 to well, less than 40. Winking smile

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This boy is full of hugs and kisses!

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Ed’s grandma lives in the same town as my brother and we were so thankful to be able to visit her. She has been declining for several months and we did not anticipate that we would see her again this side of heaven, but God has given her a little more time on this earth. She is 96 years old and ready to go, but thankfully she is not currently in any pain and is residing in a sweet home where a pastor and his wife care for several elderly patients. She has many visitors and she knows them all! She hasn’t seen any of us in two years and she knew who we were immediately when we walked in!

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God bless you, Grandma! We are so thankful for everything you have given to your family in your 96 years and pray we can continue to live a legacy of faith as you have done.

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Game time!

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He is SO good at memory!

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In the afternoon we headed to a splash park to cool off!

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Us Ball girls absolutely LOVE palm trees!

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We ended the day playing outside in the backyard and just generally having good old-fashioned quality time!

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I think these two are doing some dodge ball strategizing!

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Either they’re strategizing some more or Elise wasn’t following coach’s instructions…

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I think the hard work paid off!

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Almost bedtime!

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What a good first day!