A Texas Summer

Super-fun Aunt Jackie and the niece that loves her!

"Life is like a box of chocolates."



Ava and Jules feeding the ducks...lots of ducks.




one large bag of bread = lots of enjoyment!

Reading Rags with Papa

Jackie playing the role of Jane Goodall.

Watching the elephants feast (and I mean feast) on the smorgasbord of fruit and such for the zoo's anniversary. (There were women in heels at the zoo. I am not kidding. Big doings at the zoo.)

This was the only shot I got of them looking at the flamingos

where Jules wasn't holding her nose. : )

Jackie reading her letter from the French government.

She will be teaching in Aix les Bains this school year.

Go look it up. You're gonna be WAY, WAY jealous!

Jackie playing the role of St. Francis.

Ava at Spiral Diner just after a morning at the pool. (Vegan Food)

Mommy and Ave..."hey Jackie that looks like some yummy wheat meat over there!"

Jules looking very cool and a lot older all of a sudden!

Jackie's cookies. If you haven't had one, you haven't lived.

Insert Here one photo of Uncle Mike....beacuse we loved him

and just didn't have a photo of him to share at the moment.

For the second leg of our trip we drove to Tayhaas while Chad flew back home to work. We missed him but, we had a terrific time visiting my family! We spent time at the pool, time cooking, playing, baking, drinking a delicious port mom and Jackie bought in Napa, playing games, laughing hysterically until I was pounding the floor with my fist...you get the idea. It was marvelous, wonderful fun. We sure wish we lived closer so we could walk over for dinner any night of the week. However, until that point we will just savor every little moment together. Sure love you people. : )

A Missouri Summer

All the grandkids with Grandma. She picked out these

awesome outfits for the kids. Aren't they WAY cute?

Prince and Princesses

Chillin'

Friends Forever

Joyful Jules, Marvelous Maddie, Adorable Ava, and Lovable Lainey!

Chewing the Fat

Ava loved and feared this little car. She wasn't quite

sure if she was okay with all that get-up-and-go.

Cheesey!

Jules at the jump place, in her element!

Uncle Seth is so so so so much fun to play with.

He barely gets a break when we visit!

Chad and I striking a pose at the banquet.

The Dora slip n' slide grandma found.

You can tell by the look on Lainey's face it was pure fun!

One of the adults got in on the slip n' slide fun, too.

But, we're not gonna go there. ; )

I am guessing they are watching THOSE baby videos. It could only be.

Scrabble...it's a Mortonos thing.


Our little gardener.

Diggin' away.

Popsicles with Grandma and Maddie.

Fourth of July sparklers!

I stole the next couple photos from Nikki!

Jamie, Chad, and Seth golfing...

One of my favorite photos of the summer!

Playing with Isaiah. Where'd he go?

Peek-a-boo. Such a cutie!

At the beginning of July we drove to Kansas City to visit our many Missouri relatives. It was a ton of fun. The cousins played for days and days. They soaked up all the love and attention possible. It helped make up for lost time. Or at least tided us over until we can see each other again. : ) Thanks for a terrific visit! We love and miss you guys!

Busy

We've been busy soaking up the summer.  Be back soon!

Celebrating a Decade

This passed weekend Chad and I were fortunate enough to get away for a second honeymoon to the east coast. We spent four days and three nights in Charleston/Kiawah Island, SC. The trip was beyond phenomenal. It was our first vacation away from the girls. Chad's parents were gracious enough to come all the way from Missouri to stay with Julianna and Ava. If they had not come, there would have been no way we could have gone. Words cannot express how thankful we are to them for giving us this time! THANK YOU GRANDMA & GRANDPA! YOU ROCK!

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The Sanctuary might be the nicest place I have ever been. Chad and I felt like royalty and have had a difficult time transitioning back into peasant life. No one is pouring lobster bisque over tarragon marshmallows for my dinner appetizer. No one is offering me refreshments before my afternoon massage. I am not sure when I will spend $65 on dry-aged filet mignon again. And, no one will be turning down the sheets with rose petals tonight. : ) Then again...Ava did kiss me nine times before bed and told me she loved me "lots." Julianna did wake me up this morning and asked to snuggle for thirty minutes before getting up. Chad and I will fall asleep laughing and telling stories like we do most nights. Tomorrow we will finish up a lovely lemony Father's Day dessert. And oh, you should have seen how they ran out to us when we pulled into the driveway on Saturday night. No matter where you live or who you are...that's pretty tough to beat.

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More anniversary nostalgia to come in the next few posts. : )

This & That

Baby snapper

Rainbow over the house

Playing in the rain with friends

Reading Bible stories with daddy before bed