Family

In July my nephew Matt, his wife Shelby, and their daughter, Summer made a circuitous trip around the Midwest to visit family. They started off in Minnesota visiting Shelby's family and celebrating Summer's first birthday then traveled to Kansas. In northeast Kansas they visited Matt's grandparents, Joe and Priscilla, his uncle and aunt, Jim and Gretchen. They then traveled down to Manhattan KS to visit JD, Janel, and Blizzard before returning home. Whew...

Here are some family photos from their trip. I particularly love the ones with Joe and Priscilla meeting Summer.

Great Grandma Priscilla

Great Grandpa Joe

JD, Summer, Matt

Hi Cousin!

Blizzard (5 mos) Summer (11 mos)

Impromptu Family Fun

A couple of weeks ago a party broke out in our pool! What started out as five family members coming over to swim snowballed to a full fledged pool party with 15 people in attendance. What fun!

The water was perfect, the company was awesome, and a great time was had by all. I'm ready... when can we do it again?!

Jeff (Shelby's dad), Thunder, Matt, Sunny, Zach, Skye, Snow

The grandkids made up some game and Jeff, Sam, Matt were gracious enough to play along!

Gramps and Snow

Storm wore his tool belt into the pool. 

You just never know when you might need to fix something!

Awww, Snow and Summer

Sunny wore her animal print swimsuit because she heard Summer had one too!

Dan and me with our first Great-niece!

Jeff, Matt, Summer, Shelby, Sam 

Skye getting in some cuddle time with Snow

Zach and Summer

Sixty!

I have several blog posts to write today, but I'm going to publish the one that's most important to me - my birthday!

Last Wednesday was my 60th birthday. I can't believe that's my age because I don't feel anything like I thought 60 might feel! I'm not a person who is bothered by my age. I'm proud to be 60 and when you consider the alternative, well, you know.

We held my birthday party yesterday and it was a blast. Thanks to all in my family who made it a special day for me. I love you!

On my screen the color looks blue, but it was a gorgeous deep purple

Adam, Jessica, me, Zach, Katie, Gabe

JD and Janel are on the tablet. I didn't want to have my 60th birthday photo without them in it. So we Skyped them in!

Dawn, Shelby, Matt, Shawna, Summer

Dawn is Shelby's mom and Shawna is her sister visiting here from Minnesota

Four Generation

JoAnne (my mom), Jessica, me, Snow

I wanted a photo with all of the grandkids, but that can be challenging these days. Both boys are in the "photo avoidance" stage of life. This was the best of the worst! Skye, Sunny, Thunder, Storm, me, Snow

Tio Zach helping Storm with his swim shoes

My mom with her 6th Great-grandchild.

My SIL, Kelly with her first grandchild.

Summer!

Tia Katie and Snow

Storm and Jessica

Another example of the best of the worst photos, haha!

Snow and Summer, what a difference a few months makes

Introducing Summer

My nephew and his wife, Matt and Shelby welcomed their first child into the family yesterday! Summer (her blog name, not her real name) was born yesterday afternoon. She was a surprise in more ways than one. She arrived about 2 1/2 weeks early and literally everyone in the family thought she would be a boy.

The cousins are thrilled to have another cousin to play with and I'm overjoyed to be a Great-Aunt finally!

We love you Summer!!

Family Fun

My nephew, Matt and his wife Shelby are expecting their first baby in August. A few weeks ago they held a "Baby-Q" shower. It was such fun and very well attended by family, friends, and co-workers.

Shelby's nursery theme is Dr. Seuss and is so cute!

Most of the family was there so we took the opportunity to snap a family photo.

As you can see, even with five family members missing, we're growing into quite a large group!

Front row: Matt, Shelby, Sunny, Gigi (my mom), Jessica, Snow, Thunder, Katie

Back Row: Storm, Adam, Papa (my dad), Dan, me, Mark, Kelly, Gabe

(Mark and Kelly are the grandparents-to-be, my brother/SIL)

Congrats Matt and Shelby!

My nephew Matt got married on July 4th in Minnesota to his beautiful bride, Shelby.

Congratulations! We love you both!

White Elephant Party

We held our 2nd Annual Family Christmas Party this past weekend. It was a blast! It featured, games, prizes, singing of carols, White Elephant Gift Exchange, Desserts, and Appetizers. Since it's a family party, I tried to find games that we could all play from the youngest (well, not quite, Storm couldn't play) to the oldest.

I had read a blog post about a Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt game that a mom used to teach math concepts to her kids. I adapted it for game night, hiding candy canes all over the house. Obviously the person who found the most was the winner - it was Thunder! He found 32 candy canes. We also played Christmas Bingo. I also adapted a baby shower game by handing out jingle bell necklaces to everyone. If anyone was caught saying "Christmas, Thank you, or gift" they lost their necklace. The winner had the most necklaces at the end of the night - congrats Matt!

The food was delicious, the carol singing was enthusiastic, the gifts were creative, funny, and yes, even useful. I've already started searching Pinterest for games to use next year!

Me, Katie, Sunny, Thunder

Dan and I with the grands

Gabe, Sunny, Katie, Thunder

I love these kiddos!

Me and my girls

The winner of the Candy Cane Hunt!!

Matt and Storm

Matt and Shelby with Sunny

Matt brought the best white elephant gift.

It was a can of Pringles and a gold fish - fish and chips!

Sunny and Thunder were ecstatic that they now own a fish.

Meanwhile, Back in Arizona...

If you're a news junkie like I am, you must be feeling pretty overwhelmed these days as I am. So to take our minds off of all the strife and trouble in our world, I thought I'd share photos of recent happenings in my little world:

Storm & Grammy as he turns 24 hours old!

6/7/14: Thunder, Dan, & Gabe at Sunny's dance recital. I'm not sure what look Thunder's going for in this photo!

Gabe, Thunder, Katie

We provided the traditional flowers after the show

It was very bright out and hard to get her to look at the camera

A close-up of her required make up for the recital - she loved it!

This is a sampler I stitched for one of Katie's friends.

I love how it turned out, but it sure took longer than I  anticipated!

Roberta (Abuela) & Sunny at 5th BD party

My nephew Matt & my mom, JoAnne (Gigi)

Me & the BD girl - I think everyone wore the crown but her!

Blowing out the candles

Thunder 

Grammy Summer Camp

Dan & I found this Lincoln Log set at a yard sale.

When we got it home, there was only one piece missing!

It took me 45 minutes to put it together, guess I'm out of practice.

Thunder brought his horses to play in the fort.

I'm not sure what Sunny was doing!

Jessica got Sunny a neat sewing toy for her BD. You stitch the outfits on the doll. She loves to stitch, and did a great job!

We're getting her ready for cross-stitching!

At cooking class we made Root Beer Floats.

When we were finished, Dan & Thunder loved them, but Sunny said the soda was "too spicy" and didn't drink hers!

Me & the kids taking a cool break in the pool

Storm (our cousin Bev sent him this cap - he'll grow into it!) 

Jessica got this idea from Pinterest... it's so cute!

Gramps & Storm

Grammy stealing a kiss

I can't wait to see if he keeps his strawberry blond hair!