Champions

WAY TO GO CHRIS (and the guys)

 Tonight my son-in-laws softball team clinched the

 league championship and the playoff championship.

Team manager, 

and daddy to a little girl who cheers her daddy on at the games!

 Tonight as we were walking up to the game ( that was already in progress) Audrey said,

"GOOD JOB DADDY".  After Chris hit the ball in the 6th innings she said, 

"daddy running, Go daddy".

She ran the bases after the game with grandpa...

 then she decided it was time to rest...

The champs

Good times

This weekend we attended the wedding of a friend.  

The Dietzmans put on a beautiful wedding for their oldest child Cara.

Our daughter Brianna was the Matron of honor.

Cara and Brianna are long time childhood friends

The reception and dance were under a tent in the yard.... we all danced the night away

All the father's and daughter's were invited out for a dance.

My daughter Brianna and my hubby Rick

My Son-in-law Chris and granddaughter Audrey

My son Brice and his wife Jenny were able to attend as well

gettin' their groove on

Jenny and Brice, dancing up a storm

Dancing the night away

(daughter Brianna... and Chris)

~~~

Congrats Tim & Cara

Hydrangea's are beautifulMy mom's are especially beautiful.

(this picture was taken 2 weeks ago)

And then there's my Hydrangea.....

 Photo taken today.... pathetic

Most years I get no blooms at all, this year I get just one.

The foliage is always full and healthy, it just wont flower.

anyone got any idea's. 

(The plant is on the south side of the house)

Cousin time

Cousins are different beautiful flowers in the same garden.

Our kids love their cousins

as the older ones have gotten older the younger ones are

 clinging to opportunities to harass them

9 year old Jensen is relaxing on 20 yr old cousin Gavin

I love seeing them play together

God made us cousins, because he knew our moms couldn’t handle us as sisters.
(Megan & Brianna, 4 months apart)

Even the "big" cousins still play they just don't call it that anymore. 

Ryan & Brice, (4 months apart)

All the cousins make a point to gather on July 4th

Three of them are married... one, soon to be.

And then there's the 

Cousin-in-laws

Shared silliness

Alex and cousin-in-law Jenny.

  

The older girls (married and soon to be)

Brianna & Megan (on the left), cousins and life long friends

Kate & Jenny, (cousin-in-laws)

In the middle, Megan & Kate (sister-in-laws)

The cousins and their significant others

Jenny & Brice, Chris & Brie, Kate & Jamey, Megan & Josh

Round Two; 2nd cousins

second cousins Sam (13) and Audrey (2) 

Audrey is blessed to be able to play with her 2nd cousins. 

I never knew who my 2nd cousins even were.

Sweet times

I absolutely love this picture of second cousins Alex (17) and Audrey (2)

Spending time together, not a care in the world.

Specks of light in the night

 Has anyone else been amazed and mesmerized by the abundance
 of fireflies this summer. 

(I'm guessing they like Heat & Humidity)

As much as I'd love to take credit for the photography, I cant. 

I borrowed the images off the internet. 

Last night it was like a switch turned on.

I was mowing the lawn and  it was getting to be dusk

At precisley 8:45 pm the fireflies in my back yard   lit-up 

It was beautiful, I was catching them in my hands without even trying.  

brought me right back to my childhood 

when we used to catch them and put them in jars. 

we had to get down real low...

underneath them so that they lit-up against the dark sky

they were slow fliers...easy to catch.

I think we called them "lightning bugs", 

 Fireflies is another name for them

What did you call them? 

Fun facts about fireflies:

Fireflies talk to each other with light.

Firefly eggs glow.

Fireflies eat other fireflies.

Fireflies have short lifespans. Long enough to mate, 

and lay eggs

Fireflies are found on almost every continent.

last but not least...

Fireflies don’t make tasty prey.

When attacked, fireflies shed drops of blood in a process known as “reflex bleeding.” The blood contains chemicals that taste bitter and can be poisonous to some animals. Because of this, many animals learn to avoid eating fireflies. Pet owners should never feed fireflies to lizards, snakes and other reptilian pets.

75 years young

My dad turned 75 on Friday 

 He's still going strong and looking good

Today mom threw him a lovely surprise birthday party

Many family members were able to attend...

some unable due to "life"

The "Iowa clan" 

some of the grandkids

Sister & Brother

More family

Dad is all about FAMILY

Brothers

 Presents

3 of his 4 kids (missed you Randy)

Singing Happy Birthday...stirs up emotions

There's just one special guy missing and it gets him every time.

His twin.... 

Happy birthday in Heaven Uncle Gerald , we miss you too.