SUMMER 2014 PHOTO BOMB

I don't mean "photo bomb" like it's new and hilarious usage.  I mean like, I'm about to drop a bobomb of photos of our amazing summer last year in a desperate attempt to keep a record of our family's memories.


May began with Disneyworld, covered elsewhere.  Then came the seizure, covered elsewhere.  Here's a little from the rest of the month:

Campbell and Layla had been taking a dance class from Rachel Watson, a 12-yrold girl who ran a studio out of her parents' home.  With her thigh-high cast, one might expect Layla to sit out of dance class.  As seen below, she did not consider that a reason to not participate.  Their dance recitals always bring tears to my eyes but I imagine that 30 years from now this one will still be one of my most favorite Layla moments.

Campbell receives recognition from Miss Rachel for constant obedience and willingness to try new things.

Ezra showing off his teeth, 10 months old, watching his sisters dance.

Spencer brought the girls to visit Ezra in the hospital one night.  He's pretty lucky to have all these loving sisters!

 JUNE:

Ezra in June.  He's just kind of the cutest.

June was another one of those "Never-a-dull-moment" kind of months filled with adventure and, might I remind you, pregnancy.  I had told Cadence after what felt like decades of arguing about our "no sleep-overs" rule, that ONE time for ONE birthday she could host a sleepover party.  Turning 8 seemed as good a time as any so she chose her 8th birthday for such an honor.  Since we were going to be gone during the entire month of July (her actual birthday), we planned for June.  Also in June, Spencer headed up a week-long survival trip for his scouts on the Buffalo River.  In an act of pure desperation we called Mammaw to come help us during that week because, again, I don't do pregnant well.  Mammaw came to save the day and that week we not only hosted a great big movie-night slumber-party birthday bash for Cadence, we also orchestrated and executed our first annual Service Club Carnival and Outdoor Movie Night to benefit the Children's Shelter.  Thank goodness April was there to get us through the week!1`

The party guests watching "The Lego Movie"

Slumber Party Shenanigans!

Self-made cake!

The girls making the Carnival Flag Pennant Banner

Working hard!

The carnival was held at the Fleming's backyard and Tara had a fever all day while we prepped the yard in the boiling heat.  Pioneer woman!  The "Happy Kids Service Club" is comprised of the Clive, Fleming, and Bredensteiner kids and we plan little service projects throughout the year and decided during the summer each year to do one big project.  Last year it was just a Movie night so we stepped it up in 2014 and made the carnival.  The project was a "birthday drive" so the entrance fee was a donation of birthday supplies for the shelter-- candles, wrapping paper, balloons, presents, etc.

some of the "cake rock" set up.  My invention :)  The Cake Rock is like a dance party and a cake walk put together.  Dance+Cake=good.

An exceptional girl showing off her exceptional facepaint.

Here's one of the games the Bredensteiner's set up and manned.

The Photo Booth that Clives were in charge of.

Caprice and Jaclyn offered their service and sold popcorn and drinks. 

Here's a table full of donations.  We filled Dan's extended cab full of donations plus a box of cash.  We were thrilled with how much we were able to bring to the Shelter!  What generous carnival guests we had!

Also in June-- Campbell's first concert!  Daddy daughter date to the free Walmart Shareholders Concert to see Luke Bryant.

This dark blur is an attempt to capture the wild-animal dance--partier that came out of Campbell spontaneously when she felt the music.  She was FEELIN IT.  Little rock star :)

 After all the planning and hosting and carnivalling, we packed up the van and drove to Utah!  We found ourselves there with 2 days left of June.  Summers in Utah are so beautiful and Grandma and Grandpa always have a surprise!

This would be our last visit to Grandma Great (my Grandma Harward).  We missed having her in Grandma Orton's basement where we could sneak down to visit her anytime.  Although visiting her in her new place required gentleness and waiting of turns and a general  quit-touching-all-her-stuff, the kids really treasure her and so they loved spending time with her.  We didn't know we wouldn't see her again in this life.

grandpa and Ezra have a special bond.

Campbell enjoys movie night on grandpa's projector screen :)

 And that leads us into the crazy month of July.  And I mean CRAZY.  Hold on to your hats, folks.

You know what? I'll do july on it's own.  Because who's going to stop me!?