Catching UP.............

Okay, now where do I begin?  So much has gone on the past 2-3 weeks that I'll have to sort through it as I share it with you.  

On July 16th some of our dear friends daughter was married at Mt. Magazine in Paris, Arkansas.

 Carolyn and Dick were our backdoor neighbors for many years and we had so much fun raising our children together.  After they moved from our neighborhood they had a daughter to go with their 2 sons.  When Shannen was just a little girl they moved to Arkansas and we haven't gotten  to see them as often as we would like to over the past 25 years, but the bond of friendship remains.

Shannen married a young man from Paris, France that she met while she in college.  About 33 members of his family all flew over for the wedding and there was a interrupter that translated the ceremony for them.  It was most unique and we enjoyed sharing in this special time.

Two days after we got home from the wedding our daughter arrived with our 2 grandsons in tow.  Thankfully, her neighbors 15 year old granddaughter came with her and was a big help to her as they traveled.(our SIL had to stay behind and work) ~work can often interfere with fun~   It is about an 8 hour trip but with a baby, it is closer to 9 or 10.  Bridget is such a trooper and just takes it all in stride.

Poppa and Coleman would go out on the patio every morning and swing for a while and it usually resulted in Coleman falling asleep.  He is still so cuddly even though he was 11 months old yesterday.

The cousins had fun swimming and playing together while they were here.  It's really neat that the oldest are a year apart and the youngest are 6 months apart.  In another year or two the little ones will enjoy each other.  It was a memory making time.

And, I must throw this one in..............the girls and I went shopping one day while Bridget was here.  It began to rain while we were in a store and nary a one of us had an umbrella.  So, being the good Mom that I am, I put a bag over my head, took off and picked the girls up at the door.  My lovely daughter snapped this as I was braving the elements to come and get them. ~what a Mother will do for her kiddos~ 

Two days after Bridget and the boys left  Hubby's sister and her husband came for a visit. 

They are so special to us and we enjoy them very much.  And, they were here to share in my 64th birthday this past Friday. We all enjoy a lot of the same things so we never lack for something to do but we also enjoy just being together and visiting.  It was a fun time!

So, that's what I've been up to in a "nutshell."  I don't think we have anything on the docket for this week, so we'll settle back in to our daily routine and enjoy the memories of these past days. 

May you have a most wonderful new week!