Happy Independence Day!

Before the fireworks, we spent some time at the pool.  Good times. :)

I love these pictures of Alex and Debby!  They crack me up, and it was fun to celebrate the 4th of July with them!

More older stuff

This is Ben playing at the recital from June 4th.  

If I had pictures of what I did today, it would involve testing chemical levels at the pool, getting my hair colored and cut, sitting in the passenger seat while Ben drove to the orthodontist, taking Ben and Zac to a math lesson, delivering a few goodies to Eli at camp, sitting in the passenger seat again while Ben almost turns left in front of oncoming traffic (ugh!), taking a walk with Ben after dinner at Dos Reales, then leaving Ben at the pastor's house to help him with moving and unpacking his music room and studio, then more chemical testing at the pool that is not chlorinating like it should.  But, alas, I have no pictures.  I do have this video though.  Enjoy!

Older stuff

Now that I'm figuring out this video thing, I'm going to add Ben's and Eli's piano recital from June 4.  Here is a picture of the kids that were a part of this recital.  The woman on the left is Sunyhe, their piano teacher this summer.  She is wonderful and it's really been a great experience having her teach them.  She is receiving her PhD this summer in piano performance and pedagogy.  During piano camp, Ben was paired with Sunyhe as his instructor, and received instruction from her twice a day!

This is Eli's performance.  Awesome dude!  Right now he's at camp and I miss him very much!  This Saturday he will be playing trumpet in both the orchestra and also the symphonic band.  I'll get some snippets of that on here next week.  The last two days I've also worked on trying to get another of Ben's piano performances on here, but the computer or blogger wasn't cooperating.  I'll try again later.

Ben at ISYM

Here is a video from Ben's piano recital following a week at piano camp.  Let's hope this video works, since I'm new at this blogging thing.

Late Night Cookies-Almost

So, tonight I thought I would really like some oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies.  Really, it was my idea.  Not Mark's.  He did not ask me to make cookies.  I repeat, Mark did not ask me to bake him cookies tonight.  Not that he was complaining, of course.  And I decided not to do the last optional step involved when baking cookies: the actual baking part.  I mean, it really is optional, and cookie dough deserves to be appreciated and enjoyed for what it is.  Yum.  I will do the baking tomorrow, though end enjoy the baked cookie just as well, I'm sure. :)

Happy Father's Day!  I am so thankful for Mark and what a great dad he is to our sons.  He loves them with his whole heart and they know it.  They love him and I love him and he's just pretty much IT!  And I'm thankful to have a dad that is a man full of integrity and loves his family!  Aaaah, God is good!

We are well into summer.  I just realized the kids have actually been out of school for a month now!  I really hate how summer goes so fast.  We dropped Ben off at music camp this morning for a week far from home (about 15 minutes away, ha).  I look forward to his recital on Saturday to hear what he can prepare in a week!

Me

Zac slippin & slidin in our yard

Zac enjoying a ride on a paddle boat

Mark paddling on the Great Lake :)

Got my life vest just in case :)

Zac

Ben and Eli

A Delorean we saw around town! Like it's the 80's!

Watch out!!

Eli helping at vbs this week.  Ben and Zac helped too.  It was a good week.