June
There is only one way to start off summer and that is with GELATO!!
Todd purchased a gelato machine as soon as we returned from Italy!
This night we had coconut and vanilla and I made
skillet chocolate chip dessert for the base!
Evan had a couple of his law student buddies over.
They are the cutest couple :)
Two beautiful women!
I love this picture!
Graham joined us even though he probably should have been packing for his trip ;)
This is the night we Tony named the boat True Blue!
There is a very long story behind this name but suffice it to say
it is the perfect name!
Todd didn't waste any time ordering the decal.
We haven't had a chance to put it on yet because of all the rain.
It was such a beautiful evening for gelato, boating and friends...
…and silly Mily and Dily pictures!
Good night sun!
The next morning Graham was off to Georgia to
spend some time with a fraternity brother.
He had a blast!
Todd and I went to Cheryl's house that night for ribs!
Cheryl went on the Italy trip with us.
Another guest of hers was Drew
the owner of my favorite bakery in Fishers!
Taylor's bakery!!
We were telling him about the gelato in Italy and he
said that he wanted to try to make some.
He grew up in the neighborhood behind where we live now
and
said that he would bring some by when he made a batch.
This is what he brought over.
It was delicious ice-cream but gelato it was not :(
He's going to keep trying!
We stopped at Marshall's in Anderson that evening and picked
up these containers for Todd's gelato!!
Vera took her first boat ride that day! :)
She didn't like it at first but now she loves it!
They also had some friends over and she is sharing all of her sweet rides! ha!
The following week Lindsay came over to groom the poodles and brought Greyson.
And,
he was really sweet to share his blanket while the rain kicked in down by the lake!
We didn't really plan that walk too well!
It was a fun afternoon with the babies
and
then Sandy
(Greyson's gma)
and Gretchen joined the party.
I always love to have Todd's cousins over!
It's just never long enough :(
Thanks for being our Captain, Todd!
Todd's crew!
It was a great two days.
It's been a great 29 years for these two lovebirds!
Happy Anniversary, Tom and Karen!
I wanted to take some pictures out back between all of the rain.
I had sunny skies for a minute this afternoon.
The Fire Spirea was beautiful this year!
I really cut it back last year and it filled out nicely.
And,
do you see that beautiful color of crimson and white in the left hand corner of this picture?
Astible!
I separated the Astible last year and it was gorgeous this year!
The oak leaf hydrangea's bloomed!
Last year I transplanted close to twenty plants and I was hoping they would make it!
The snowball hydrangea's were just starting to bloom.
They smell so good!!
And then I went up on the dining room balcony to water these geraniums.
Let's just say that I'm thankful for all of the rain
because I haven't watered them since!
Reason?
There was a bat and her nest in there! eeeeeeek!
I thought that it was a frog and I touched it…sooo gross!
One evening we had a spontaneous cook out with Alan and Kiely.
She liked Uncle Todd's gelato!
And,
playing with Ashley and the poodles.
She was one busy girl!
Here she is climbing in her bumbo seat.
Look at those precious toes!!!
Trying on Uncle Todd's shoes.
Running with that shoe and V's ball!
She was touching Graham's beard, and eyeing his headband! ha!
The following day some of us met up and went boating.
Alan came and picked us up in his boat in our cove.
Look at that belly :)
Here we go!
Is that not the cutest suit!
She loved Evan's hat!
As you can see by the boat windows it kept raining off and on
just enough to be annoying…
or was that Alan saying,
"That's the last time. It's going to blow over!" ha!
Ducks!
Keeping her busy during the rain!
taking a selfie while we were taking cover!
Family picture!
So sweet!
The girls!
Silly Goober :)
She says, "Hi?" ha!
Vera saw Daddy dive in to the water and she wanted in!!
In she goes!
Awww!
Oooo…
it's a little cold, Daddy!
Ok,
now I'm used to it!!
Momma putting on her hat.
She loved it!
Yay Vera!
Precious :)
Next,
It was Kiely's turn!
Yep,
it has been a couple years since this girl has been skiing!
Wahoo!
You sure couldn't tell!
That afternoon I came back to the house and hit the sofa on the porch
and
stayed there through a couple of storms until dark.
A perfect summer day!
The next week I got to watch Vera a couple of mornings :)
She ate her breakfast...
…and then we went on a walk around her neighborhood.
She was pointing at some birds.
We came inside and she played and played!
One of her favorite things is pushing her grocery cart and her babies.
She threw her babies out and parked her cart.
She wanted Posie to sit up.
She tried to put her on her bottom,
then her knees...
...nope!
Oh, I know what will work!
The splits! Of course!
There, finally!
Wait, what?!
She gave up!
Imagine lots of running, squealing, and laughter! :)
Those babies of hers were driving her crazy! lol!
She took a break from the chaos of her babies
and
went to a toy
that she has mastered!
Ahh, ah!
No, biting the door security cord ;)
because,
she went back to her babies and I think the face shows how she feel about that! ha!
Strong baby girl!
After a morning full of play
it was snack time!
Banana bread, strawberries and blueberries!
We went outdoors to kill about twenty minutes before it was time to lay down for a nap.
I love that Kiely has her on a schedule.
It sure makes it nice when I watch her.
I know exactly what to expect at what time!
She felt sooo big in the rocker!
After her morning nap
we went for another walk.
This time we went to see the ducks!
She was waving goodbye to them.
It was such a fun day with her!
I couldn't wait to see this smiling face bright and early the next morning!
Dimples for daaaaaays!
I swear she grew overnight!
She looks like such a big girl here.
Kiely took a picture of me reading to her before I left.
Vera loves her books.
She is my JOY!!
Another joy is watching Graham play tennis!
These two haven't
played tennis together since Graham's freshman year in high school
when Matt was a senior.
They decided to play Men's doubles in the local tennis tournament in Anderson.
They won this night.
Todd won this night when he made strawberry and mint chocolate chip gelato!
It was perfect because I was blogging my Italy trip!
when Graham found this cute turtle out in the yard!
not so much!
Father's Day
Evan and Ashley got up early and went out to breakfast with us.
They were giving Dad their gifts here.
this Citadel blanket was my gift to Todd!
He loves Evan's so much and always wanted one.
I think that V can't wait to snuggle in it with Daddy!
That afternoon we headed to Anderson
to watch Matt and Graham play in the finals.
The Herald Bulletin newspaper.
Just an excerpt from that article:
It's hard to believe that these men were once little boys
that attended tennis clinic on these same courts years ago!
Afterwards,
Todd and I HAD to stop at Gene's Root-beer
for some food!
That evening Ashley and Evan got back from taking
her Dad out to
The Spaghetti Factory in Indy.
Have you ever seen such a TINY waist!!!
Thanks for always willing to take a pic E!
We then ended Father's Day on the water.
Todd wanted Graham to drive the boat.
He did a great job!
Storm clouds were rolling in so we had to call it a day.
We have had a ton of rain!
James,
Graham's friend from Wabash,
was here for a couple days last week.
In between the rain they went kayaking.
They said that the lake was empty because of the constant threat of rain.
kept us from going to Grammy and Pappy's for a swim.
So,
we went to Kiely's instead.
Becky was home!
AhChooo!
After a good sneeze
she was ready to get some pictures with Vera.
Aw!
…psych!
I think she loves her Aunt Becky!
SMOOCHIES!!
We will see you in October for graduation!!!
Vera's favorite thing…glasses!
She was looking at a picture of herself on Grammy's phone :)
The center of our world!
Becky was taking a selfie
when,
Kiely photo bombed it! ha!
Rain rain go away!
Vera just wants to play :(
Thank goodness,
it was Becky's friend Ana with her baby, Olivia
to the rescue!
Vera couldn't wait to play with her!
Maybe she was too excited!
Olivia had been asleep and she woke up to all of us looking over her
and
one excited little girl!
Better?
Nooo…not yet!
Maybe the dogs will be a good distraction.
That was the trick!
Aw!
Friends at last :)
Friends ALWAYS!
It was soon time to go!
I could squeeze her all day!!
Here is Evan using this little piece of heaven!
Doug
Vladimir
We managed to work in another boat ride in between the rain and more gelato!
We found this little spot on the lake!
It is a nice peaceful cove that we found out later is where
Indiana Pacer Paul George lives!
Speaking of peaceful,
this crew on the USS Jason Dunham is helping to keep things peaceful for all Americans!
Chad is on the left :)
The Fourth of July is this weekend.
Remember why we have our freedom!
Thank you to all of our military men and women
and
their families!
(Chad is in the back row second from the left)
I can't wait to celebrate with this little firecracker!
Enjoy your 4th everyone!