July flew right by us and now it's August already! Ready or not, this is the month that always gets packed to the very brim with summer fun!!! I've tried hard to not let things pile up for August but it just happens! The school bell will be ringing through the hallways in only a few short weeks and so we want to make the most out of the last of summer vacation! With helping clean school last week and already our school shopping is done, we are semi ready for that life style again.
We've been trying to get pool days in when possible. Last week was busy for us but we managed to get a day at the pool on Monday. Fun in the sun is great! Matthew was bored though. He was wishing for a friend. The rest of us swam and enjoyed the vitamin A, B & C!!! :)
Tuesday, Jody's girls came over the afternoon. Tony's are in the beginning stages of buying another home. So much needs done before they will move this fall and we are willing to help them! I'm so glad it's not us packing up the whole house and remodeling and cleaning up and sweating like pigs to make it all happen and into a beautiful home ... but I AM SO HAPPY FOR THEM! They were able to purchase this home and after a few big renovations, it will be so cute and perfect for their family!!! On Tuesday, the girls came here and they played and Matthew and Morgan made bath bombs. They scented them with lavender and peppermint. Boy, did my kitchen smell good! :)
Then on Wednesday, we spent the whole afternoon working at Tony's home. So much needed done outside. All the carpet got ripped out inside. Mom and I served lunch and the kids had a real blast all afternoon playing in their big back yard and helping with the work!!!
Here's a picture of the girls in the front of the house. We cleaned out so much in the front flower beds and cut down trees and pulled weeds!
Ice cream break!
Underneath a shade tree in their back yard, the kids found old pots and mixed grasses and leaves and played and played. Fun times right here!
This is the back screened in porch that got torn down because Tony's are going to make a new addition in the back.
Jody now has lots of different trees. There is a huge lilac bush that was so over grown and weeds growing up into it. We took the chain saw and clippers and attacked it! It looks much better now!!! I can't wait to see all it's blooms next year!!!
The kids played tug a war while we worked! Every now and then we would holler out their names and they would come help throw branches and weeds on the trailer.
We've been having the perfect showers this summer but every now and then we still run the sprinkler over the garden plants. What fun to run through the water while things are thriving and growing all around!!!
Last week we got to spend some time around the pool. The kids enjoyed the Popsicles so much.
Ashlyn was thrilled when Maleah showed up at the pool!!!
Also, last week I had White Willow Photography take some pictures of Austin and Ashlyn. Cousin Lindsey does a great job and I cannot wait to see some cute photos. In the mean time, here are a few that I captured.
Totally cheesy ... totally chilled out before Lindsey got there.
I didn't edit any of these and maybe once school starts I can spend some time tweaking them but I know Lindsey's will be perfect! Austin loves his skid loader that my Mom gave to him for his birthday. He scooped up sand and played while we took pictures!
Ashlyn went along too in hopes of getting Austin to laugh and then capture some of her and the two kiddoes together.
If you would have blown too hard the sticks would have fallen over. But Austin did great! :)))
I always have a small bag of accessories when we get our pictures taken by a pro. Usually it carries tissues, baby wipes, snacks, hair brush and a water bottle for those stuck up hairs that need to be flattened. It ended up becoming a great tool and laughing prop!!!
The end of the week was busy too. Hadassah went to volleyball camp at Lancaster Bible College from Wednesday - Saturday. I missed her around home and especially much when it was time to clean the house!!! But, the house still got cleaned on Thursday. Laundry was done. Yard work finished. The employee picnic was Friday afternoon and evening. We missed Dad Lapp a lot and it sure felt different with him not being there but the company moves on. Going forward is what must be done. Matthew invited Benson to come over and hang out with him at the picnic and the two of them swam in the pond and had a blast all afternoon. When we dropped Benson off at his home that night, we spent a few minutes on the porch with JR and Lorene. Such good times!!! Matthew ended up sleeping over at their house while the rest of us dirty people came home to shower and get to bed.
Saturday forenoon, I took the little kids with me and we watched Hadassah play some volleyball and then bring her back home with us. Hadassah LOVES volleyball and it's totally her sport! She's got at it and is still learning new drills and every drop of sweat that comes from volleyball is so much fun for her!!! Good job girl!!!
When we got home, she was SO, SO tired!!! Hadassah said that everything hurt and her muscles were sore from all the volleyball playing and stretches they did the past few days. "My pinky is even sore!!!" :))) She went right to bed and slept and slept. I love her efforts and hard work with this sport!!!
We spent the evening around the campfire at John and Suz! Friends are so special and summer campfires are so much fun!!!
We went full tilt on Sunday with church and then a church picnic for lunch. We came home and sacked it out! Our late nights and full schedules are catching up to us. While Mike was in a deep sleep, Ashlyn came beside the bed and woke him up and said, "Daddy drink this." Mike, in his sleep, grabbed the small cup and took a drink. UGH!!! Sore!!! Ashlyn just smiled and left the bedroom. She had poured some lemon juice in a cup for Mike to drink!!! :))))
We again sat around another campfire on Sunday night but this time we were eating homemade pizza at Smoke and Mim's house!!! Yummy food!!! Thank you Matt and Lena for the invite and thanks to those who helped make the yummy food!!!
Now we are in already in a new week and I'm still finishing up this post from last week. Time is moving by quickly and we are finding ourselves holding on tight to the last days of summer vacation. Our August is packed full but with fun, exciting events!!! We love summer time!!!
