Team O. Web Gems: Summer Memories 2016!

(still desperately catching up!!!)

2016 was our first summer back together after a year at school for Julia, and we had a blast!

The girls and I brainstormed a basic weekly schedule for ourselves...but we ended up having very few "normal" weeks where we could pull this off!!! But a few of the weeks worked out, and we all enjoyed having some loose structure.

Here are some of our memories from the Summer of 2016!

POOL FUN:

First day in our baby pool, which we set up in our screened-in porch.

Caleb ended up enjoying it much more than he's indicating in this picture... :)

Some fun times at Welch Pool

(this is Julia with Jake Min, the new ACF pastor's oldest son)

VBS FUN:

Julia attended Kidzplosion -- a VBS event at a friend's church

BIRDFEEDER WATCH:
Caleb enjoyed watching the birds...though banging the window when the squirrel arrived was definitely his favorite. ("NO, Caleb -- it's a BIRD!" was also a common refrain...)

LAUNDRY:
I wouldn't normally blog about something so mundane...but when you have this cute of a helper...how can you not!? :)

FIRST TASTES:

1st Corn-on-the-cob!

1st Pudding pop!

FATHER'S DAY:
Julia had made this paper tie MONTHS earlier and kept it under her bed...pulling it out on the right day! Her memory is ridiculous!

A LEE FAMILY VISIT:
We got to spend a few days with Chad's sister and family, with the kids enjoying a local zoo together!

WEDDING PHOTO FUN:
We had the privilege of attending the wedding of two former ACF students (Keren and Charles), and snapped some photos with each other and the Hennings...

(I. Can't Even. This makes me laugh so hard!!!)

PUBLISHED:
Julia was BEYOND DELIGHTED to receive a letter telling her that her joke she submitted had been published in the magazine Clubhouse, Jr.!

Her original joke? (they edited it a bit...in a way that kinda makes it not make sense anymore!)
Q: What does a girl frog say when she can't remember something?
A: "I frog-ette!"

ANOTHER WEDDING!
This time, it was one that Chad performed for former ACF students Kyle and Caitlin. We so enjoyed our time in pre-marital counseling sessions with these two!

(signed marriage license)

4th OF JULY BIKE PARADE:
We got to hang out with our friends, the Browns, for this fun event!

BON VOYAGE FRIEND DATES:
We spent some special individual time with each kid from the Brown family before they headed to Germany for a sabbatical year!

Sleepover for Lincoln...

"The B.F.G." movie and dinner at Baby's with Maddy...

And a Batman-themed day with Reid...

VISITING MOM'S GRAVE:
The girls wanted to be more involved this year on the anniversary of Mom's death...

FREE CHICK-FIL-A DAY:
We'll still do anything for free food...

NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE SPIKES:
I had the chance to sing with Kim and Lynn again this year -- it was a fun evening with family and friends, as always!

PEOPLE'S CHOICE FESTIVAL:
The petting zoo is always a hit!

ARTS FEST:
We actually went downtown as a family this year, and at least ONE of the girls LOVED the water buckets!

"THE LITTLE MERMAID" at the MILBROOK PLAYHOUSE:
The girls and I enjoyed a fabulous performance with PSU alum (and former ACFer) Christina Kidd as Ariel...

FIRST LOST TOOTH:
Well...in the chaos of unexpected blood and screaming...we accidentally lost it down the drain. :( But Julia was still excited by the experience -- and got a teeny tiny note and envelope from her Tooth Fairy...

MEGA SPORTS CAMP:
Julia enjoyed her 2nd year as a camper in cheerleading...especially crazy-hair day!

AG PROGRESS DAYS:
The kids and I had fun on a hot day...they were especially excited about scaling the trees with the Arbor Club representatives!

SUMMER HARVEST:
Our friend Nate provided us with free plants from his horticulture class...and we enjoyed the bounty!

PITTSBURGH TRIP:
We enjoyed a visit to our friends, the Nagels, and visited the Pittsburgh zoo on a beautiful day!

TABLE FAREWELL:
We donated my (breaking) childhood kitchen table and chairs...but not before I could say goodbye!

(tipping on 2 legs -- always a no-no in my household!!!)

A VISIT TO THE CO-SPACE:
After reading about it in "State College Magazine" (a publication which Julia dubbed "perfectional!"), we asked our friend Shelby if we could come for a tour of their home! Lots of fun was had!