June Catch-ups and July Party!

Much has happened since my last post in June...but I want to go in order on updates - so you'll just have to wait with bated breath...unless you are my friend on Facebook - and then you know everything already!!

A couple random picutes...
Like this - showing how my kids likely break arms...

And this one - Justin had to cut down our Ash tree (which makes me VERY VERY sad) and I'm lucky that HE didn't break an arm or leg doing it. I really don't like our yard now without the tree :(

And we were excited in June to see Andrea, Lucy and Jack when the visited from Chicago for Sarah's graduation party!! As all these kids get older and busier, we don't get to see them nearly as much as we used to.

 (Sarah, Ella, Alison, Lucy, Abbi and Zoe)

Since last post when Silas broke his arm - he adjusted pretty well to that and on July 3rd got a half-arm, waterproof cast.  It worked out great because we had the whole Juenger family coming for Mason's graduation and birthday party.  I was adamant that we got the waterproof cast on before the cousins' arrival so that Silas could swim and have fun with them - so happy that it worked out!
This is Hudson and Silas at COSI - being way too cool...

We had Juengers from all over the U.S. start rolling in the last week of June - from Arizona, Nevada, Rhode Island, New York and from around the corner.  It was such a fantastic time to see all the cousins have fun and play until they were so exhausted that they couldn't see straight!
All the kids (except Mason) at COSI.  What a cute bunch!!

 

(James, Molly, Ella, Silas, Myles, Hudson, Trent, Will and Jefferson)

We ended up with Cousins in a Box upon the arrival of the NV Juenger Bennetts...this kept them busy  for quite a long time!

 

The James' were crazy and invited us ALL over for their July 4th party...I tried to warn them!

A great time was had by all - especially the kids who got to swim all day and then see the fireworks.

We had a super fantastic (with some bouts of downpour) on July 6th for Mason's graduation and 18th Birthday party!  It was wonderful to see some great friends and old neighbors come by to visit.

LOOK at those boys down in front...could the be any more related?!?
It was a wonderful visit and I wish we could do it so much more often!!
Love to see them enjoying each other!

We got to go to the Star Liner - one of Grandpa J's favorites!!

 (Mason and Molly)

(Baby Jeff and Ella)

And since the NV Juengers/Bennetts left OHIO...they have added to the ranks!  Carolynn Olivia was born on July  26th.  She is SOOO cute!!

It's been such a fun (and exhausting!) summer so far.  We just got back from our OBX trip on Saturday, so that needs to be blogged next. But wow, feeling so blessed to spend time with the family this summer!!

I Blinked...

and Spring Break was gone :(  Wow, that went fast. No fun vacation for us this year like our New York and  beach trip from last March.

Instead...
 - Justin went to New York to get some of the family items that we've had in storage from Grandpa J. While he was gone, the kids had sleep overs with some friends, Ella and I snuggled in bed and watched a lot of HGTV (we really like House Hunters and House Hunters International).  Ella is really good at picking out the houses that they will select.  She takes a lot of interest in the design of the houses and which houses would be the best fit for the families.

- I had movie night with the the Girls - we decided to liven up our winter by having a monthly movie night and we have done quite well with the movie and drink picks for each one.  We've watched Going the Distance, Life As We Know It and The Switch. All have been very good and perfect for a girls' evening.

- Ella, Silas and I spent an evening with the Sayre's since their daddy was out of town too. Ella and Abby are in the same grade and Carson and Silas go to the same preschool. They have a great time playing together but it is usually a meltdown when it's time to come home. I'll just blame it on the SuperMoon that night.

 - I went to the visitation for a dear friend's mom who past away after battling Alzheimer's for several years. Over those years, if there was a night that she or one of her sisters weren't at the nursing home, it's only because her dad was also having health issues too. God Bless them as they settle into this new normal.

- I worked A LOT over Spring Break.  I've taken on quite a lot of new responsibilities with work...and quite a few added hours.  It's great and exciting and I'm happy about it but possibly bad timing as it coincided with Spring Break!

- But Margie and Aunt Amanda came to the rescue and got the kids out of the house for me. Margie ran them around one day for me, and then we got a great surprise visit from Aunt Amanda (after begging her to come visit us for a few weeks!!).  Amanda and Margie took the kids to the Humane Society to see the cute puppies and kittens, to get ice cream, to the bank several times (...long story!), to COSI, where they had a ball. In general - they got them out of the house and my hair so that I could work.

- I took Mason to get his temps on Friday - we barely made it in time to get tested.  I thought the mean looking lady behind the desk was going to tell us "too bad" (we were 5 minutes past testing time). I think she saw the look on Mason's face and decided to let him take the test. He passed and we got the learner's permit!!  Watch out!!

- We watched the Buckeyes lose an agonizing game to the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night.  Beth and I were depressed enough that we needed to go out on Saturday night. She, Amanda and I went to see Hat Trick and had a blast.  They are such a fun, fun band!

- Justin, Amanda and I took the kids to see Diary of a Whimpy Kid 2 (or Diarrhea of a Whimpy Kid, as Silas was calling it) on Sunday. Cute movie and the kids loved it.  Silas is singing THIS non-stop now and doing the "dance".


- And I ended the week with my lovely book group pals. More delicious food, lively conversation and very little discussion about books :)

Photos from NY

You can see some here:

11.7.2010 NY

The 4th Festivities

Our 4th of July weekend was packed full of fun stuff.  We welcomed Grandpa J and Aunt Amanda on Friday night.  And Saturday was Mason's 15th Birthday!!
We ran out Saturday morning and got a birthday cake. He picked the purple cake with pink balloons...because it was a marble cake (he's secure in his manliness).  He really wanted a Batman cake though.  Maybe next year!

We had beautiful weather the whole weekend but it was HOT HOT HOT.  The parade on Sunday was at 2pm - Ella and Silas decided they wanted to be in the parade on a truck with friends.  So Justin, Mason and I watched for almost 2 hours before seeing them near the end, by which point we were about to melt.

Grandpa, Mas, Margie and Si hanging out on the porch.

Grandpa J and Ella - with her new haircut.

Si, Mas, Zoe, Amanda and Ella-

Impossible to get everyone to look at the camera AND smile!

Four days after her surgery, Beth was crazy enough to have the annual 4th of July cookout! Glad she did though, the kids had a blast swimming and we all had a great time.

Like we always do, we loaded the kids into the back of the pickup truck and drove back to the park in the neighborhood to watch the fireworks.  There were tons of people out this year setting off their own fireworks - some way too close for comfort!

Allysa, Sarah, Ashlee, Ella and Silas

The fireworks were pretty darn good and then the kids spent time after doing pop-its, sparklers, smoke bombs and burning a finger or two...

It was a GREAT (but exhausting!) holiday weekend and we're VERY grateful that Grandpa J was feeling good enough to make the drive here to see us!!