cousin's visit

During the month of July my cousin, Kim, and her family came to visit us. They are in the states for the summer as they transfer & transition from Italy to Germany. Kim's husband is in the Air Force. It's been about 3 or 4 years since I've seen Kim & I'm so glad that I got to visit with her and meet her little ones, Paige is the same age as Morgan and the twins are just a bit younger than Emma. Her children were so impressive--mature, considerate & polite young adults and the little ones were adorable!

They came over for a barbecue in our backyard and stayed the afternoon and evening visiting, laughing & swimming. It was fun to hear their stories of Italy and get to know her teenagers a bit more--their interests and goals and plans. It was so fun getting together and I hate to think that it may be another 4 years before seeing them again, so by-dang if we aren't going to try to make it to Germany within the next couple years!!

(l to r) Ashley, Mike, Kim holding Paige, Jacob, Shannon & Rachel

Morgan playing 'ring around the rosie' with Paige

Emma, Rachel, Jacob, Paige & Morgan playing 'ring around the rosie' in the front yard

Ashley, Shannon, Mike, Kim, Jacob & my SIL, Felicia, chatting before dessert

Paige & Rachel swimming in the pool enjoying the beautiful weather!

Felicia & Kim

(Felicia used to live in Germany when Jeff was stationed there in the Army and now Flea's son, my nephew, Dean, is living in Germany on the same AF base that Kim will live.)

dancing queen

Last weekend Sarah was invited to a birthday party for Levi, my friend Michelle's son. The only thing he wanted for his birthday was a tuxedo and to have a 'fancy dance'. He's a romantic at heart (gets it from Alex, his dad). Isn't that adorable? What kid that age wants to dance with girls? Back in my day boys thought girls had cooties--and vice versa--until Jr. High! So I thought this party was so stinkin' cute!

All the kids learned the chicken dance, the bunny hop, the hokey pokey and so on. Then they got paired up and danced a 'waltz' to Beauty and the Beast. Each guest got their picture taken with the birthday boy, and they played games, ate chocolate fondue and, of course, had cake and ice cream. Sarah really had a fun time (though she was a little embarrassed dancing with a boy).

Sarah in the blue dress (left) with her partner. Levi (the birthday boy) in the black tux DIPPING his partner!

Sarah getting her picture taken with her friend Levi.

blowing up her balloon for a game

All the girls dancing & getting warmed up for the chicken dance

Each girl got a corsage and each boy got a boutineer.

Sarah's dance partner

(I love that he's so short even though he's only a year younger)

This is my favorite photo--how he's looking at her!

amusement

This past Tuesday our family went to Lagoon Amusement Park as part of the K12 school end-of-year celebrations. It turned out to be a really fantastic day--very short lines, if any, great weather and a buffet to boot! We invited my SIL and her kids since the tickets were discounted, so my kiddos had their cousins to romp and play with all day long (and they were a huge help to me & Gene)!

Since the weather was in the mid 90's we hit all the 'wet rides' first and during the hottest part of the day and, of course, spent a few hours just chillin' at Lagoon-a-Beach on the lazy river. Then, after some food, we spent the rest of the evening riding the 'dry rides', including all the fast, scary or nausea inducing rides. After dark, we hit the souvenir shops to get the kids some treats before heading home and watching them collapse in the van from exhaustion! Truly, a fun day!

Gene and Morgan on the Flying Aces

Morgan riding the whales (not to be confused with Mommy at Lagoon-a-beach) ;)

Morgan and Sarah 'racing' cars

Morgan flying an airplane--she loved it!

"Thar she blows!" Thank goodness nobody had a harpoon! Me & Sarah on the lazy river

Sarah, Morgan & Emma on the space ship ride.

Morgan really loved this ride and wanted to go 'again and again'.

Aboard the train and in a tunnel (w/ cousin Alyssa)

The swings at Lagoon

Morgan and Gene on the Carousel in the evening

The last ride of the day: Sarah & Gene on The Rocket

I wonder if amusement parks really, truly understand the trust that we, as parents, put in them when we strap our most precious possessions to a piece of metal that shoots them sky-ward at 500 miles per hour??? I sure hope they do!