May's Days (Part 3)

Ahhhh...summer vacation!  The kids took about 48 hours to recuperate from an exhausting school year (lol), then it was off to Michigan for them!  Allison was set on going with them, even though they would be gone for at least a week.  Knowing her (quite the independent spirit),  we weren't worried.  They had a wonderful visit, thanks to their Grandpa and Grandma Burley, Uncle Gene, Aunt Tina, Amanda, Harmony & Chris, Kristen, Sonny (the exchange student from China), and Brody (the dog)!  While they were gone, we were BUSY! 

The house we are remodeling is pretty large - at least it seems that way when there is so much to do!  Greg has been rearranging an oddly placed closet/door situation, so it seems he has spent most of his time so far hanging drywall and removing carpet. I am still working on the walls. 

Watching the bright mint green disappear!

Looking better!

When the opportunity came for a little break, we jumped at it!  A Saturday in Holmes County was relaxing and fun.  It's rare that we do anything with my parents without the kids, so we made the most of it.  :-)

An Amish BBQ

Amazing food!

The next night, after church, we went to Cincinnati with mom and dad.  We hadn't seen Grandma Yount since Christmas (other than me dropping off some food to her one day when she was sick and I was in town).  It was a quick visit, but it was fun to surprise her.  :-)

And then of course there were a couple of bonuses to this trip...

Annie + bath paint

Aubrey

And we were able to spend a few hours with Adam, Valerie, and Jenny (a friend from GBS).  We grilled up some steaks, and had us a little feast before heading back home!

Then it was time to start couponing again...something that gets shuffled to non-priority status when we are in survival mode.

And reading!  Yes!  Something that we both love to do, but it's all too rare these days.

And cruising the car lots...yup, that's fun, too!  I guess it's kinda in my DNA.  As kids, we did this regularly.  :-)  Although I'm well aware that my 171,000 mile, 10-year-old mini van will be in the family for the foreseeable future, there's no harm in looking.  And if you ever see one of those "Don't laugh, it's paid for!" bumper stickers...pick one up for us.  We're ready for a disclaimer.

Then, after nine days in relative calm and quiet, it was time to pick up the kids.  They weren't quite ready to come home, but we had to prepare to leave for youth camp and so it had to be.  We met in Shipshewana, IN. 

 And the crazies were back!  We missed them.  :-)

Allison was all excited because a friend had given her a "music dvd"...lol...

Nothing like the scratchy sound of an LP blaring tunes while four little girls twist and shout!

With Livvy and Suzie

The kids entertain themselves on the deck while we spend yet another evening working on the rehab project...

With Halie

Ryan and Evan are keeping super busy doing a couple of lawn jobs and helping with projects.  They recently learned to pressure wash, and Ryan used an auger to dig holes for the deck they are building at my parent's rental house.  Fun stuff.

And then we are happy to have Speedway's 99 cent fountain drinks back for the season.  Miles of smiles, thanks to them!  :-)