Our Summer in a Nutshell...... and Photographs.

Part III

A Pie

 in the face!

Happy Eleventh Birthday to our sweet Isabel

   

For some very odd reason, this child has expressed a desire to be pied in the face. She has talked about it for over a year. So, on the occasion of her birthday, I allowed her brother's to do just that! 

And

In true Isabel fashion

She LOVED it!

Check that one of your Bucket List, Baby.

Skate Party!

and bad, really bad lighting.

 Maggie, Mary-Margaret, Isabel, Abby and Stephanie

THE BEST OF THE BEST FRIENDS EVER!

 Isabel chose  a skate party for her birthday.

Sadly, I was not in attendance.

I know!

I was on bedrest. Back injury. No fun.

But, Daddy came to the rescue and many teen cousin helped pull it off!

Including getting some photos for me.

Thank you, Brooke, Megan and Brianna!

 Isabel with her long time (since birth!) friend, Maggie!

 

And another Bestie, Abby!

Apparently, it is somewhat difficult to take good photos in low lighting with fast moving subjects! Who knew? HA! I thank Brianna that I have any pictures at all and love even the blurs!

 

 Some of them just looked better black and white.

 And some of them, well..........

Bahahaha!

 Then there was pizza and cookies back at the house.

I did get to come down from the bed for this part!

A hug from her God-sister!

 

 Can't believe she's grown up so much!

It was a HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

for Isabel!

 

 

Our Summer in a Nutshell......and Photographs

Part II

A Getaway for Some

Paul and I had the opportunity to take the three youngest
 kids away for one night in July. 

Sadly, the big boys had to work and so,
 they got left behind. To fend for themselves. 

*Gasp*

They actually stayed across the street with their grandparents.

While Isabel, Claire and Asher got to have this view 

It was a sweet time to just enjoy these little guys.

 Without so must hustle and bustle!

 Just relaxing pool side.

And walking to the beach when they wanted.

And back to the pool!

It reminded me of the vacations I took with my family when I was a kid.

And I got the opportunity to take photos showcasing each of these little treasures!

Claire Hope Kangtong - 6

 

Asher David Jun'an - 5

So! Much! Cuteness! 

And then our middle

Isabel Lee - 11

 

So beautiful and turning into a young lady.

It ended too soon!

But that's okay, because the summer wasn't over.
We had lots more to do!

Because

The Cousins Came!

(Nineteen summers ago, Brooke, now 20 years old, came to stay with me for her first summer visit in Charleston. This year she brought her 5 month old daughter for the first time!) 

Filling my table

My yard

 My van

With noise and conversation

With people in every nook and cranny of our house!

With more sweetness than you could imagine!

They filled our days with fun!

And blessed our hearts in so many ways.

And it was good!

Very good!

But all things must end and the cousins had to leave.

Our house, but not our hearts!
We love our cousins and cherish each summer visit and every addition.

Kennley Elizabeth's first summer visit was a huge success and I am so grateful to her mommy for bringing her here to carry on a NINETEEN year old tradition!