Wrapping Up The Summer

Some seasons of life just seem busier than others, perhaps because they are! Summer seems to have only started yesterday, but as Johnathan will tell you, the countdown to the first day of school and the official end of our summer is 6 days and counting.

We celebrated our first day out of school with our good friends, Neal, Baylee and Brennan. On the second day of summer vacation we received a new baby, Andrew Ryan!

In the hospital, waiting to go to surgery!

Dr. Nett shows a brand-new Andrew to mom & dad

A bath, a warm blanket and things are looking up!

Is there anything like newborn baby feet?

Johnathan meets Andrew for the first time!

Elijah meets Andrew for the first time!

I was concerned that Johnathan and Elijah would remember this summer as the boring one when the baby came...not even close. Grandpa Bob and Grandma Vicki stayed with the boys for a couple days at our house so they could visit with Andrew at the hospital, then they were off for a weekend in Indiana. Grandma Vicki stayed for a week, then Brandi, Neal, Baylee and Brennan "babysat" us for a couple days and we were on our own for a couple days before Grandma Vicki returned. Grandpa Allen and Grandma Rita came for a week. They took the boys "out on the town" everyday and did fun things like the McDonald's PlayPlace (no they NEVER tire of it!), swimming at the hotel, Holiday World (Grandpa Allen, Dad and the big boys), Chuck E Cheese - who could ask for more? Well, if you're turning 7 then a birthday party at the pool with all of your friends is a great way to wrap up a week of fun!

Brennan (Feb 21, 2007) and Andrew (June 7, 2007)

Neal, Johnathan, Andrew, Elijah, Baylee and Brennan taking up the whole loveseat!

Grandpa Allen and the boys

Johnathan turns 7 Spidey-style

Johnathan and his friends at his birthday party!

The day after Grandpa Allen and Grandma Rita flew home, Uncle Ryan and (soon-to-be) Aunt Jennifer arrived. They stayed in La Grange one night and then drove to Indiana. We joined them a couple days later for an engagement party at my parents and the 4th of July.

After a full month of excitement, we relaxed for a few days. The next couple weeks we spent as much time as possible with Brandi, Neal, Baylee and Brennan (Brad and Gary joined us a few times) before they moved to Murfreesboro, TN. It was very hard to say goodbye to such wonderful friends, so we quickly planned our first trip down to visit for September. We told Elijah about the trip about 6 weeks too soon! He wakes up everyday asking if today is the day we're going to Tennessee.

Uncle Ryan gets "webbed" in the front yard

The boys play miniature golf at General Butler State Park

Andrew rests while the boys play golf

In our lifejackets and ready to go boating - paddleboating

Johnathan pedals while Mommy relaxes in the heat and sun

We had a fun week of Vacation Bible School at Avalanche Ranch (and we managed to get there relatively on time each day). Our neighbor and friend, Josh, has been spending time with us the last few weeks while his grandfather works. We took one more trip to Indiana for a week and visited great-grandparents, grandparents, great-uncles, great-aunts and lots of cousins one last time before school starts. Grandpa went with us to the fair and managed to find a wet seat! We rode a few rides, drank a milkshake (or two), watched an old log splitter, checked out the booths and the few animals still remaining on the last day and we were out of there - it was HOT, but we wouldn't have missed it!

We told you Grandpa found the wet seat!

Andrew went to the doctor today and weighed in at 15 lbs. 5 oz., the 97th percentile. His height seemed to be in the 95th percentile, but with all the wiggling I'm not sure how accurate we were. He smiled and "talked" to the doctor and was as charming as could be. He tries that in the middle of the night with me, but it doesn't work quite as well at 3 a.m. as it does at 10 a.m.

Andrew's first smile (on camera)

Dr. Nett & Andrew at my six week check-up in the scrubs Aunt Jennifer sent him.
Dr. Nett autographed them for us.

And finally...

What summer would be complete without an injury? Elijah models Daddy's bandaging handiwork. Believe it or not, this was a rope burn underneath his armpit. I've never seen anything like it... He certainly doesn't lack creativity!