Week 28

Monday, July 9th

My day started bright and early for senior high camp!  Maddy and Nathanael were off for I week.  I helped to run registration and also (for the first time in 10 years) took a turn being the bus chaperone up to Rumney, NH.

55 teens in Burger King out of state made me nervous, but they were great and I got everyone back on the bus.

My dream came true!  One of my kids 'tried' basketball!!  I'll never understand why one would play hockey on the ice in a 25 degree rink for thousands of dollars in equipment and ice time when one could buy a $60 pair of sneakers, a $20 ball, and play in a WARM gym.  Basketball is such a great sport, way more accessible to pick up a game than hockey, and did I mention warm?  

Anyway, the town put out their summer brochure and I let the 3 littles all choose something they wanted to try.  Renna chose tennis lessons, Trevor chose a Lego camp (which ended up being canceled), and Rocco chose basketball!  Six weeks- Monday practice, Tuesday game and very low commitment.  No big deal to miss for vacation or whatever else. 

Rocco didn't know any of the rules of the game going in but quickly picked up on it all.  His coach and the entire town staff in charge of the rec program were phenomenal!  He ended up being an essential part of the team and the knock-out champion.

Tuesday, July 10th
Garth invited us out for a Coventry Lake day to get some more time with Allie and Levi.  He was such a generous host to share all his toys, feed us, drag those kids around on the tube 'til they were done.  Such a pretty day to be out on the water.

At one point I realized Renna had jumped into a kayak and made it out to the sandbar by herself.  In true Renna form she figured out how paddle and steer that thing.

After one practice, it was game time!  

Maddy texted from camp.  She and Kelly had coordinated ever day's theme together.

Wednesday, July 11th

Second boat day of the week!  This one was for Girls' Night Out.  Larry gave us girls a ride around the Sound before we headed to dinner.

Beach day at camp.

Thursday, July 12th

I invited one of Renna's little dance friends' family over for lunch and a swim as well as Andrea and the girls.

Andrea discovered another great Manchester program--Thursdays in July half the town is at the high school for running club.  Kids get to try all the track and field events.  For 3 hours, kids can hop back and forth between events.  Such a fun way to meet community, expose the kids to new things, and enjoy being outside on warm summer nights.  On this particular night, I watch in awe as Gianna ran a 7-minute mile, lapping many of her peers.  Sienna ran it in just under 9!

Maddy and Kelly are front and center.

Nathanael is to the left of the flag in the white wig.

Friday, July 13th
A very dumb picture, but the only one from the day.  The profile of the girls' hair in the car next to me.  Impressive.

Saturday, July 14th
We went to Mom's campground where they had a Christmas in July program.  Free arts and crafts, face painting, Santa came with gifts appropriate for every kid and sleigh rides!  Since it was Sadie's birthday, it worked out well to meet up with cousins.

I loved the moment in the day when the kids were all saying goodbye to Santa and he said, "See you next year!" Without missing a beat a little 2 year old girl shouted back, "What about December???"

After church we did our usual pizza back at the house.  I always count it a gift when when teens choose to hang out and share their hearts.  These two are so fun to be with!

Sunday, July 15th

Rocco has joined Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) at church.  While Colombo has done almost all of it with him, I filled in this morning and got to see what all the fun is about.  He LOVES it.  

C4 left for kids' camp as a counselor and Colombo dropped Nathanael and Sean for their 3rd year at Word of Life in NY.

We spent the evening at Ninny and Papa's.  We celebrated Nick's 40th birthday and kicked off 3 weeks of having them in town!

Bad picture, but this is how you'll always find Rocco and Milo- attached at the him.  Sweet snuggle boys happy to be in each other's space again.

Week 27

We arrived home safely from an amazing week at the Outer Banks.  Vacation is amazing!  Preparing to go and recovering from being gone can be a challenge, though.  We immediately hit the ground running again, bulldozing through a mountain of laundry, refilling the fridge, and preparing to host guests for the holiday week.

Monday, July 2nd

No picture, but we welcomed our company.  Colombo's business coach, Rick, and his wife Renee have become wonderful friends.  We've shared in celebrating milestone anniversaries, birthdays, and most recently, they have stepped up to help in any way they can with Maddy since they live 40 minutes from where she's moving to.  They and their two kids joined us for 4 days and it was a low-key, beautiful time together.

Tuesday, July 3rd
Mostly we stayed close to the house, mostly poolside, but we ventured over to the studio for an hour so Maddy could give the girls a little tap lesson.  Danielle just started taking tap about 3 months ago.  Our previous two houses are within a mile of the studio so we took Rick and Renee for a little drive down Memory Lane.

We introduced them to "The Greatest Showman."

Wednesday, July 4th
Renee brought patriotic flare for the girls.

Typical 6 year old outfield pose:

This game was particularly entertaining.  Someone from the side of the pool timed the throwing of the tube so the one leaving the diving board could get through.  The misses were hilarious, the "almost" got it's were even funnier, and the crowd went crazy when C finally got it.

Renna taught herself how to front flip in OBX, so now she's moved on to twists and layouts.

Jacob finally worked up the nerve to go off the board to his dad.

We got word through the day that Bethany gave birth to two healthy babies.  That'll be an easy birthday to remember!  Toronto and Temple...

Firepit, s'mores, and fireworks.

Colombo put on an impressive fireworks show in the cul-de-sac.  Jacob's favorite memory of the trip, we're told, is when a firework shot over our heads, nearly hitting us, and landed on the roof of the house.  Nothing like a brush with death to leave a lasting impression!

Thursday, July 5th
Our last day with the Dellar's.

Bob and Jules were at the Cape for their big 10-day summer vacay, so I put a long-time plan into action.  When we have guests come stay with us, more often than not, we have them stay across the street at Bob and Jules'.  We are short on bedrooms and they have three empty bedrooms and 2 empty bathrooms.  They are happy to help, and we are so grateful!  Already twice this year, they've hosted my cousins from Idaho and then Rick and Renee spent 4 nights over there.  I decided as a thank-you, I'd give the guest bathroom a quick little facelift.  A little cosmetic help.  It hadn't gotten touched in the 12 years they've lived there.  I knew she hated it, but it just never made it to the top of the to-do list.  I shot Bob a quick text just for permission and told him not to tell her.

Here are the before pictures.  When I tell you it's one of the worst I've ever seen (not gross, just ugly), I'm not kidding.

The first day I just shopped for supplies, did general prep work, and painted the ceiling.

Friday, July 6th
Phoebe got phixed!

Our Annual Fourth of July Bash with the Brolin's.  It was shorter than usual and we were missing Kayla, but we still managed to have plenty of food, fun, and laughs.  "Grandma" arrived bearing gifts.

Saturday, July 7th
We said goodbye to the Brolin's after lunch. I continued work over at the neighbors. Maddy took Renna and met up with Shelley and Taelyn for a little adventure.

Kelly was baptized at church and I bawled like a baby listening to her testimony.  Sadly, no picture.  She's a special young lady and it's just so moving and inspiring to see a young generation rise up and declare, "I will follow Him."

Sunday, July 8th

Brent posted this Sunday morning and it blessed me so much.  I don't know the man and had never heard this story before, but it's so neat when I do eventually hear them.  I do what I can where I am and He is faithful.

Colombo and I worked together to finish the bathroom.  He switched out both lights and hung the mirror and towel rack.  I hung a few decorative things (thank you, Hobby Lobby!) and cleaned up my mess.  A handful of hours over a few days and I was so pleased.  It was quick, fun, and I LOVE surprises!  I could barely sleep Sunday night waiting for her reaction on Monday when she got home. I left the old, crappy valance on her kitchen counter with a note, "I'm so sorry.  Rick and Renee had a minor mishap in the guest bathroom, but we'll be sure to make it right.  And you're a Christian, so you have to forgive us."

Bob said she immediately ran upstairs to see what happened and was completely overwhelmed to the point of tears.  Mission accomplished!

(That little white shelf has been replaced since by a better one.)

Video 1 is the "before" tour.  

Video 2 is the "after" tour.