We had the best summer- hope everyone else did too! We played outside more than any other summer and with the kids getting older, it's getting better and better!
Some of my best memories as a child was playing in our large sandbox and filling it up with water. Check out that hill with a tunnel... their hands touch!
Now time to give Yogi and drink from the hose and flood the sandbox :)
Have you heard? My mom (Shelbyville, IN) and grandparents (Green Valley, AZ) decided they all wanted to relocate to Lexington! It all happened so quickly too. My Grandad wanted to move closer to my mom so they flew to IN to look at retirement facilities close to her. They weren't crazy about the weather, so after making a trip to Lexington for Grace's 7th birthday party, they decided that Lexington would be a nice place to live (and I agree). My mom said that she would move here too if they decided to make the move so what do you know, we have family nearby!
It's official, my grandparents signed a lease at The Richmond Place and moved in September 1st (still have several boxes to unpack but are getting close) and my Mom is also a resident of Lexington, KY. Although she hasn't moved in yet, she took possession of her house on August 1st. She's been working hard sorting through all of her stuff at her current house. The latest word is that she will be moving in about 3 weeks.
Our favorite Lexington realtor...thank you Cherie Butler for everything!
Just a random and cute picture of George. He is still such a sweet puppy. He is the best and happiest puppy we've ever had. Now, if we could just get him potty trained...for goodness sakes, he's 6 months old now! He's much better but still having some accidents. Hoping it will be over soon!
We haven't made it every Saturday morning, but we enjoy going to the farmers market downtown to stock up on fruits and veggies! The dogs get to take turns going and are always a hit with everybody else there (as well as the shopping carts)-
Holtz and George have the same hair! Ha ha ha...couldn't resist!
We tried to do lots of projects this summer. Here, we were learning about weather and made a weather lab!
One of my favorite things to do is make homemade pizza!
We love to eat outside on the back deck too!
I taught the kids how to throw and catch a frisbee!
Taking a break to blow bubbles...always a favorite past time!
I thought, since Grace was riding a bike without training wheels, that Holtz might be ready to learn as well...he's very athletic and was riding his bike (with training wheels) standing up and one handed. By golly...he's just about got it! He can ride the entire length of the school parking lot by himself! As soon as we perfect turns...he'll be wild and free!
Grace and I participated in our first Midsummer Night's Run downtown Lex. Grace and I ran the one mile fun run together and she made it the entire way without stopping! I was, and still am, so proud of her...this was a huge accomplishment!
Crossing the finish line!
After the fun run were the fastest kid in town races! Holtz was the 2nd fastest kid in town for his age group...he is super speedy!
Grace did an awesome job as well (especially since she just finished running an entire mile)!
They both got certificates!
After all of that, I ran my first 5k with my buddy Mike Greene. He's a runner (runs all the time and is pretty fast) so he sacrificed to run with me (he he). What a great friend! I didn't run it as quickly as I'd hoped but was happy to have finished it! I had been training for awhile and felt like I was ready but the humidity kicked my butt...looking forward to my next! (Note to self...running on the treadmill inside will not prepare you for running outside in the heat and humidity- dang)!
Always love visits from uncle Mikey!
'Tested' a lot of riding mowers over the summer-
Grace had a sleepover with her best buddy Megan!
Evan took off work for a couple of days before school started so we could have several days of fun! We went to the Cincinnati Zoo and just had a wonderful time!
Messy, messy, messy!
Such a beauty!
Eeeeek! Ha ha ha- can't get enough of this picture!
On the zoo train...
and, in the 3D movie-
After the zoo, we went to Margaritaville for dinner. Was delicious and so much fun! The kids both got personalized balloons! Holtz, a sword, and Grace, a princess tiara!
The next day, we went to the Cincinnati Children's Museum...was, again, a blast!
Grace trying to surprise Holtz...busted!
Grace wouldn't help me with a puppet show but Holtz eventually did!
Best IMax movie ever...about the migration of the monarch butterfly. We all loved it!
The kids taking a bath in Grammie's new bathtub (while Evan and I are painting).
Evan is now taking the Citizen's Fire Academy. He, like me, is having a blast. Here he is hanging from the roof of the fire training center.
A week or so before school started, we had orientation to see Grace's new classroom and meet the teacher!
And, Grace's first day of 2nd grade
Holtz is 'thrilled'!
Grace is excited to be in the same class as her buddy Lily! They are very goofy together! They have been in the same class, I think, since kindergarten!
Grace and her teacher Ms. Hollingsworth (Ms. H). We are very thankful to have her. She is supposed to be very good at getting children to come out of their shells!
Grace decided this year that she wanted to ride the bus home. What luck! It drops off just down the street from our house! This year she is riding the bus Monday through Thursday and then I pick her up on Fridays. I love seeing all of the other parents and getting to talk to her teacher once a week. Grace is super busy these days. Because she moved up in ballet, she now has ballet class every Tuesday and Thursday and has modern class Fridays. She has started rehearsing for her fall performance so also has practice Saturday (and Girl Scouts every other Wednesday)...it's just plain busy. But she is holding up well and is enjoying life!
Evan took Holtz to a Touch a Truck event this year. He got to climb in all kinds-of trucks and construction equipment. Right up his alley! Was special to have a boys outing!
Here, Holtz is inside of a hot air balloon.
The kids have taken over the house. Literally, I have given up (grin). The 'off limits' pool table room is now overrun by two little kids.
Now for the funny stories...Holtz thought there was too much dirt in this pot so he helped me by spreading it all over the carpet (and ran his cars on it to work it in really well).
Earlier in the day (before this picture was taken), Holtz snuck out of his bedroom during nap time to paint his nails. Unfortunately, instead of painting his nails, he got teal polish all over several of my white bathroom rugs. Grace got home and heard what happened so decided to help him paint his nails. She was so very careful...until her arm knocked the bottle off of the table...
and onto George...
Dang! Then, Holtz, I suppose, thought he would look fancier with blue eye shadow on his eyebrows. Remember that I have given up...couldn't stop laughing at everything that was happening!
And, after being gone all day, we came home to a surprise (not a happy one). Yogi had pulled a plastic bag of the best corn in the world off the counter and both he and George thoroughly enjoyed themselves and had a nice little feast. Again, was so funny. To make things even sweeter, our vacuum was at my grandparents house so we had to clean it up with a yard rake!
Ahhhh, Notre Dame is back on! My favorite time of year!
My adorable grandparents in their new kitchen!
Holtz entertained himself with a box...for hours...maybe days while we have been unpacking them!
My grandparents had out of town visitors already!
No, Grandad, I'm not giving you bunny ears (snicker snicker). Was fun to watch the game with the biggest and oldest Notre Dame fan! Lots of grumbling coming out of his mouth!
Another visit from Uncle Mikey (and Ashley).
George has decided that he loves to dig in the mulch under the deck...so he gets bathed out on the deck! He is just too cute for words!
The dogs are best buddies!
Grace's fall ballet performance is coming up and I highly recommend it! I saw this last year and it was, by far, the best performance I've seen! We would love to have anybody stay with us that wants to see it! Looks freaky but is breathtaking-
I attended my first ever (at least that I remember) Brunsman family reunion. It was a lot of fun and was nice to meet family that I've never met. I don't have very many memories of my dad's parents because they passed away when I was young so it was nice to have people tell me stories about them. There was a mass beforehand that we weren't able to make but this prayer was from the handout. I love it! I saw my grandparents' (on my dad's side) grave for the first time and was able to find my dad's childhood home. I'm getting very sentimental in my old age.
Evan and I volunteered to be intoxicated drinkers for the new police recruit class so they could learn and practice field sobriety tests. We had a BLAST and are hoping we will get to do it for the next class too. What I was told is that I had incredible stability and balance for my breathalyzer being so high. Thank you Pilates for helping me pass my first field sobriety tests!
Here is my last breathalyzer- ha ha ha
We hope everyone is doing well. Bye bye summertime...things end, but memories last forever!
