Happy birthday, Mindy!

I was reminiscing over the years....

Mindy's first birthday - she loved her squeaky pacifier that came with her from Korea.

We had a birthday along with our "adopted" grandparents - our neighbors, Harvey and Ila Mae, whose birthdays were August 1 and August 11.

On vacation, we stopped at a McDonald's for her party.  

We had arranged to have a cake made for her and she was so 

surprised that they knew it was her birthday!

 Some years we celebrate my Dad's birthday and Mindy's together.  Like this year!

Happy Birthday, Mindy!!!!

We LOVE you!!!!!!

Kids come - backyard

I've said this before; one of the pluses of waking early in the morning is enjoying the gorgeous Kansas sunrises!

We've been having storms almost nightly.  During the day, it is rather muggy.  

I haven't had to water much at all this summer. 

Last year we had over 50 days of 100+ degrees.  

This year we've only had 1 day topping the century mark.

 While the girls were here, we enjoyed playing in the backyard.

Hannah took some of these photos.  She loves to take pictures!

The baby brown thrasher showed up 

Each day while their daddy was at conference, he sent the girls a video clip.

Claire kissed the screen.  

She loves her daddy!  She said "Daddies" over 20 times the first day he was gone.  

We gave up counting after that, but each day she wanted her daddy!

When Daddy returned, the family went home.

Sunday morning found Claire in ER.  She pulled a chair on top of her and split open the inside of her lip, requiring a couple of stitches.  With her Daddy being the preacher and needing to be at church, I helped Jill with the girls while Claire went to get stitched up.  Papa works at the hospital and he was with Claire during this very traumatic procedure!

Luckily, they were still able to pack and go on vacation for a few days.

Kids come

Because their Daddy was at a conference in Indiana, the girls and their Mommy came to stay with us a couple of nights.  Jill took the older girls shopping for school supplies.  Claire and I enjoyed the outdoors.

Claire discovered our water fountain.

"Hi Mr. Squirrel!"

 (aren't her sparkly shoes so pretty??)

Claire has become quite a ham.  Love this cute little face she makes!

Bath time is one of the girls' favorite times.

Bedtime stories - this was a fun book to read because I have been telling the girls about our Swiss/German heritage and how they came over on a ship, just like Jessie, in this story did.

Playing in the basement

 

Hannah makes "coffee"

Going for a walk around the lake 

there were some humongous mushrooms!  At least 6-7 inches tall

So nice to see the lake filling back up after the drought we have had the past couple of years.

Of course now, the rain can stop.  Places are flooding around here.

morning fog