Pass the Pineapple: July, please come back.

Yeah, just a couple-few months behind on blogging. But THIS week is blogging week. And maybe next week, too. Until we're all caught up. Mommy isn't going to sew until this blog is UP TO DATE. Well. She might, but this blog is going to get the TLC it needs.

First of all, every month just seems like it was so full and so wonderful and wouldn't-it-be-great-to-do-it-again. Except July really is that month. Summer at it's peak. The pinnacle of Midwest life. Lake days, vacation, the 4th of July, so much family time.

Normal days in July looked like the boy best friends hanging out together,

walks through the neighborhood,

trips to the zoo,

and picnics.

Don't the normal days look like the best days?!?! But they weren't! Because July is just that good.

Fourth of July weekend means our favorite family reunion. Our girls impressed us so much as they fearlessly jumped off the community pool high dive into the deep end. OVER AND OVER. Can you see little Felicity at the end of the high dive. She would just walk straight off the end, come up from the water giggling, and go right back in line to do it again. All three girls were the same way! So brave!

It was enough to wear Simon out.

Fourth of July morning we woke up at the lake as more than 20 hot air balloons glided into view. It was like living in a dream world. The most magical, fantastic, peaceful place you could ever know this side of heaven. It didn't last long, but long enough that we can't wait to see what Paradise is really like.

Mommy dressed all the kids in their official Fourth of July garb and took pictures of them. Probably not their favorite moments, but it must all be documented!

Soon they were off again to catch and release the hundreds of baby fish living at the end of the dock. Those baby fish entertained them for hours and hours this July.

Simon loved him some lake time...always someone to hold him,

Daddy arranged bathing al fresco,

and playing safely in his play yard where those three older sisters couldn't get him.

Simon turned 9 months old at the end of July and was a very, very fast crawler. He loved sticking out his tongue, making messes, and trying to feed himself. Bath time was his very favorite time of the day. And he elected to quit nursing. So the baby who refused to take a bottle when he was just a couple months old now ONLY wanted the bottle.

Tim's sister Kim and her kids came from Arizona in July to spend time at the lake. We loved all being together boating and paddle boarding. Tim's family is a little spread out so we just don't get to see them all enough. So a few days together always feels so good as our girls get to know their older cousins a little more.

Here's EVERYONE!

Tim's parents and their 10 grandchildren!

While Kim was in town, Tim went with his mom, sisters, nieces, and nephews to Cedar Point. He loves the rides and roller coasters and was so happy to go with them! A very good day until he took a night time ride...those are BUGS smashed on his face.

And July brings the Wellman family vacation. All of Sarah's family piles into a big rental home and we eat and play. Almost the exact moment we finished unpacking, Grandpa grabbed his two baby grandsons and towed them down to the basement.

He piled them onto his lap and tried to teach them all about whatever sport he could find on TV. This is the beginning of something.

Really the whole week means lots of cuddling for grandkids.

Aunt Nichole and Mommy brought fabric so each of the kids made a blanket. Uncle John got a little jealous.

So much swimming and boating. One night after the babies were in bed, we divided into the three boats with coolers full of water balloons that Uncle Michael brought and had a water balloon fight. Even thinking about how much I laughed that night makes me breathless now. Every night of the trip meant a lazy pontoon ride around the lake and games after the kids went to bed. Every day of vacation meant more moments watching people just be exactly who they are in the best possible way.

Pause for a moment! This is Simon and his godfather Uncle Tom in November 2016...

This is them 8 months later. How do babies grow so quickly? And isn't Tom just the nicest guy holding a little baby like that? These two are gonna be buds.

Unpause.
We made a few fun discoveries near Battle Creek! First Horrocks...How to describe this place!?!? Candy bins, beer and wine while you shop, cheeses, soups, sushi, all the kinds of produce you can imagine, popcorn in every color, huge pots for gardening, a green house...and FREE root beer for kids! Miriam thought, "Now this is living!"