Well, it has been another week of summer fun!  The kids set off Sat. morning to greet me at the finish line of my road race.  Pascal snapped a few photos of them making their way to see me.

 They moved the start time of the race up an hour to try and beat the heat here.  It was going to be a 100 degrees and the humidity was off the charts!  and I'm off!

 The rain started somewhere around mile 4 and last till mile 10!  but I got to see a beautiful rainbow and I was so grateful for the shower and not the blaring sun!  Pascal was a champ and texted me sweet encouragements the whole race!

After I crossed the finish line Meg said to me, "Mom, you were 7th!!"  I said, "No honey, I was a long ways from 7th!"  and she replied, "Yea, 7th from last."  I said, yea that sounds more like it but they don't call me, "One Pace Grace for nothing!"   "Slow and Steady" is my motto.  

 Spending a lot of time at the pool.  We have had lots of days near 100!

 I love this picture: I feel it really captures so much about Owen.
1. Food  - he is always hungry
2.  Flashlight tied to his nerf gun - amazed at what boys can make
3. Ear protection - because it looks cool
4. Friend in the background - because playing with neighborhood kids makes up 98.9999 percent of our days!

 We tried a new pool in the neighborhood.  This one cost 3 dollars to go to so this was the first time we had gone.  Owen and his friend were super into the diving board.

 They were the only kids on the spray pad!

Owen's sermon notes from Sunday  - they made me smile!

#3 and #4 were my favorite - I made these into prayers and have been praying them for Owen and Meg!

My dear friend Mr. Dean who is 84 and lost his wife 6 months ago fixed a chair for me.  It is a chair that was my Nana's so it is super special to me.  Mr. Dean said you could feel the springs in it when you sat on it and he wanted to fix it so you wouldn't feel them.  The kids and I go out to visit him every so often and he tells us great stories!    He always called his wife Ms. Hazel and she always called him Mr. Dean!  I think that is so sweet!

 On Sunday he said he wanted to give me something.  It was one of Ms. Hazel's crosses.  He told me Ms. Hazel and I would have gotten along real well and she would have liked me!  I hung it in my kitchen and it reminds to me pray for Mr. Dean as he misses his wife so much.

 He brought me this beautiful orchid when I had him for lunch and it has brought me so much joy!

Our neighbor won yard of the month!   Look at how pretty her walkway looks.

Here is our walkway.  I was truly disappointed we didn't get runner up or even honorable mention.  I was going for a summer theme.  Hence the pool towels, roller skates, flip-flops and dying house plant.
Well, maybe next time!

 I also wanted to show the back just for a chuckle.  Here is our neighbors place...nice picnic table, grill and chairs.

 and our place....I did clean it up after I took the picture .....in fear our neighbors might tell us they have had enough!  My personal favorite is the saggy beach ball.

and that pretty much sums up life around here.

We all laced up our skates and headed for the ice last Saturday.  Meg and I do well for about 2 hours and then we have had enough.  The boys on the other hand are just getting started after 2 hours!  They can pretty much skate all day!

 Next, we headed out to Bryce and Sue's farm.  It is a real treat to go there and we always have a great time.  Meg was super excited because Sue got a new horse.

                                                                    Cow Girl!

                                                                    Hockey player

                                                           Meg in her element!

                                                The boys got in some airsoft

 The mamas of the neighborhood got together and made an obstacle course for the kids.  Owen and Meg loved this!  Here is the finish line which seemed to be everyones favorite part.  The kids loved busting through the tape.

                                             Go Meg Go!!

 We've been trying to do a little school.  I thought I better break them in easy or it is going to be a rude awakening.  Here is our attempt at learning a few geography terms.  We made a salt map.  Meg was quite pleased and even Owen was into it!

 Our doorbell rings several times each day and little feet run up the stairs to play!  We love our friends!!

                                                             Take ONE

                                                  Take TWO

and that's a wrap!!