Crickets, Chimichangas and Crutch Cams

Huh?

Crickets

That is the word around our house lately. Not the literal insect but the silence one must have in order to hear them. You see Ross is away on vacation with friends of our family. He's been gone since Thursday at noon. It feels and sounds as if he's been gone a month. His normal modus operendus is to create a generalized "stir" about the house with a flurry of friends coming and going. Some knocking, some not. Some coming in and grabbing a glass of ice water and piece of fruit before heading on through the house to see him. This is how it normally is and we like it that way. Now? Silence. Hurry home Ross we need some hub-bub around here. I take back all I've thought or said about you and your busy-bee lifestyle :0)

Boyz!

Chimichangas

This past weekend we went to Cedar Ridge to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

You see the weekend prior we toiled and sweated Ew! How we sweated! to beautify our yard where we park the RV's. With the help of our good friend Uncle A we really made good progress. The Cuzin's came too and lent a hand for a day also. What a difference! I must say our little Grace is quite a gardner. She is not afraid of getting dirty or having some bugs crawling on her. She genuinely put out some serious girl-hours of labor!

The garden Miss Grace so lovingly tended to

This trip we deemed Mexican Night when planning the menu. Isn't it always about the food? So we all made a yummy Mexican dish and chowed down after a grueling day at the lake. Girl Cuzin' D even made delicious Sangria for the occasion, how refreshing!

Sangria  & Corona, ah Summer!

Some more Cuzins' came to join us along with more family and friends. All in all it was a nice, relaxing weekend. And, the weather was perrrrr-fect.

Getting ready for the FIESTA!

Crutch Cam

Sadly, about three weeks ago Boy Cuzin' D fell through the deck he was so lovingly building for his parents and broke his leg just below the knee. This weekend he joined us for some R&R and some moaning when going up and down steps in hopes to get his mind off his injury.

Not gonna slow him down

In true Cuzin' D fashion he made the best of the situation by cleverly creating a Crutch Cam whereby he filmed the weekend events. Too funny!

Crutch Cam!

Oh, how I adore summer. Lake breezes, visitors at Camp, starry skies, cold Coronas with a lime wedge, the whiff of campfires and that wonderful sleep that comes with the chilly night wind blowing through the screens.

Sailing, sailing over the deep blue...lake?

Living large, lovin' life...

~Kate-Lyn~

Fabulous Fourth of July

Every year it's all about friends, family, God and country. Every year it's the same. Every year it's different. Every year--it's awesome.

A few glimpses...

Daddy, Sierra and Miss Grace taking a walk in the field at Cedar Ridge

Beautiful wildflower boquet hand-picked at Cedar Ridge

Ross & Q target shooting in the corral at Cedar Ridge

Bathing Beauties at the lake

BFF's enjoying some lakeside R&R

Boat Watching

Picture Me, Picturing You

Boyz in Kayaks

Family Fun Times

Crazy Cuzins'

Annual River Swim

The Jump!

The Landing!

Brothas and Sistas

My Little Sunshine

Exploring the Deep Dark Forest at Wolf Pond

Every year this is THE weekend I so look forward to and anticipate all year long. I know I'm not alone. We all feel the same. I hear it in the adults as they heave decompressing sighs by firelight. I see it in the faces of the children as they gleefully splash in the lake. I see it in the youthful energy of the teens.

Yes, this is the substance of life. Simple, uncomplicated, deeply gratifying moments shared with those I love so much.

Praising God for His goodness ~Kate-Lyn~

So much June fun...

It all started with an amazing lacrosse season for the Varsity team. After several nail-biting, hard fought games, they took the Section II, Class A title. It was a very exciting season. They worked hard and should be proud of their accomplishment.

Bittersweet was the planting of the memory garden for my sister Bert. Her legacy lives on in all the people she lovingly counselled and advocated for. Some for the first time ever, have a safe, clean, permanent place to call Home at the Hill Street Inn because of her. The Director told us that when my sister was done with a case she would specifically ask for a file that no one else wanted to take. Someone that everyone else felt they had exhausted all options for. Amazing.

Here are a few photos of the garden "in process". I will post more when I can visit again and view the beautiful finished product.

 

Then came Father's Day which we spent with my niece and her family. We had a picnic and it was a perfect day for it. We even made a few new friends and are looking forward to the next outing all together.

Next came Miss Grace's Pre-K Graduation.

Along with celebrating Miss Grace's big day, Ross had his last day of Ninth Grade. In September he heads to the "big building" where he will finish his last three years of school (OMG, I can't believe I just typed that!).

WHEW! Now that's alot of joy! Before you know it, it'll be the Fourth of July. Gosh I love summer!

Just soaking it all in   

~Kate-Lyn~

Beautiful Words to Ponder...

As believer's we can have much hope, such joy and...peace:

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11

Praising God

~Kate-Lyn~

Bug bites and soggy sleeping bags....

 ...sure makes you grateful for good friends to "weather the storms" with, I'll say.

Typically Memorial Day Weekend is our first VERY joyful camping weekend. It is LONG anticipated after winters dormancy. This one was no different. So despite the bugs (a true bumper crop this year says the news) and the soggy weather (did I mention it rained so hard that Ross and his lax Bro Dan could ring out their sleeping bags after coming in out of the storm?) we did our best to have a fun time.

 We day tripped to a State Park...
 

We endured bug bites to see the falls in it's swollen Spring splendor...

We waded in the creek to cool our overheated feet...


But most importantly, we thanked God for those who fought to preserve our way of life. And thanked Him for those who gave it all in the name of God and Country. God Bless the USA!

Feeling Grateful ~ Kate-Lyn~

Mom's Choice Monday...

Some photos make you smile. Mostly 'cuz they are of people who make your heart smile too. This is a photo I shot of Miss Grace and her lovely, talented teacher last week. I can't say enough good things about her. We are REALLY gonna miss her , but we are SO thankful for the blessing she has been in preparing Miss Grace for Kindergarten next year. Words cannot describe it really. But I think the joy she exudes properly depicts why she is so great.

Last week we had our Parent-Teacher Conference, she explained her goals and happily reported that Grace has accomplished them all this year, and then some. She is reading at Level B, just what her teacher wanted to see. She loves to write in her journal, to learn about Math and Science in particular, and she is really strong acquiring her Spanish words. I could go on, but I won't. We just couldn't be more proud of her. Kindergarten here she comes...I just wish I were as ready for her to go as she is!

I am also happy to report that our apple trees are in full bloom. The maples are quickly forming a lovely canopy over our front yard. It seemed this day would never arrive. Praise God for Spring, it lifts my heart to see all things new.

Meanwhile, our Ross has been working hard in school and is doing very well. He's had a full year of lacrosse which has been very demanding both physically and on his time. Despite this (and a full social calendar!) he's kept Honors all year long. Way to go! My Mom's Choice photo is one that Peter took last week.  Did I mention that the team is 10 and 1? Keep up the great work guys!

A quick update on our Ryon, though he's not home much so I have no photos to post :) The good news is-- he recently received a promotion at his job. He likes working in a restaurant and the hours are well suited to his night-owl lifestyle. The bad news is-- he spent a few hours at the ER Saturday due to this new promotion. Apparently he prepares salads which are quite fancy (as are the dishes they are served on). It happened while trying to prevent such a dish from breaking as it was slipping of the shelf. Well it did break as it bounced off a lower shelf, then the broken edge sliced his finger open. Five external stitches and one internally, OUCH! Praise God that it did not cut anything other than skin. Let's hope this promotion has no more such "excitement" involved. The up-side to this job is the doggy bags are a delicious family fringe benefit. Perhaps one day we will splurge and actually go there for a real meal, LOL!

Laying low on a rainy day ~ Kate-Lyn

Still waiting on the warm weather but it's not keeping us down...

Nope not one bit. We may have to bundle up and remind ourselves not to complain, but we're having some fun times.

Soccer has began for Miss Grace and she's off to a great start. Indoor was fun but according to her this is "way funner"!

Listening to Coach Betsy

Out front - Go Blue Blizzards!

Lacrosse has been in full swing for over a month now. Ross is training hard and having lots of fun on JV.

And other signs of Spring are everywhere.


Like friends dressing in their finest for the Spring Semi-Formal.

Lax Bro's

The Boyz

The Girlz

Oh, Boy!

Elsewhere little flowers are a bloomin'

Fair Flowers

Singing Inch by Inch, Row by Row at the Spring Concert

Wishing I Could Just Stop Time ~ Kate-Lyn