Papa turned 85!

My dad (papa) turned 85 on Thursday.  We were able to get all of us together, plus some of his friends, to celebrate him!  

Grandma got a cake for him, Nicholas (whose birthday is the day before) and LT who was supposed to leave for college the day after.

These guys have a great time together.  

 

Entertaining B

In addition to lots of B's friends who have stopped by to play and entertain him, the big kids have been pretty incredible.  

Mom doesn't like Monopoly, but the big kids played with B.

 

Knee Surgery for the youngest

We had a bit of a wild 24 hours with B.  He was running and hit a retaining wall with his knee.  The laceration was so deep and big it required surgery.  

Figuring out the crutches after the ER, knowing he needed surgery the next day.

It was a long day waiting for surgery, so he napped.

Post surgery was tough to wake him up, but we eventually were able to and headed home where he will have a long recovery, but is doing really well.

 

Soaking up time with the first born

With LT leaving for school next week, I have been squeezing in as much time with him as I can.  Just the two of us went for a hike last week while Ads and Bri were in California and B was at camp.

I've been playing pickleball for a few years with the same 4 girls.  My partner was out of town, so I snagged LT as my twin partner!

 

State Swim meet

 

State Swim Party

I am not sure how or why I agreed to hosting the state swim party for Virginia Vale (especially given Brian was in Europe), but I did.  And it was fun.   And crazy, and a lot!  There were A LOT of kids and parents!  Like A LOT.  I didn't realize how many 100 in our home would be, but it worked out, beautifully!

 

League and the swim team banquet

Henry and Eliza with all their ducklings after we won league.

Our second annual dinner out with B's friend and his family at Oblios before the banquet.  No photos were taken at dinner, but I did snag this one before.

LTs last yeat swimming, but he sure went out with a bang!  And the after party is always a blast.

We spent a lot of time together at swim meets and swim practices, its only fitting that we got a photo of some of my favorite swim moms.

 

Best swim buds and cuties.

Goodbye to Grandpa

Brian's dad died in June and wanted his ashes spread in City Park.  We decided to make an evening out of it and have a picnic with some of his favorite food on the fields where Bri played lacrosse.  While a tough situation, we are so grateful we could all be together in a special place remembering him together.  And of course (since I am the only drinker), I drank part of a Coors in his memory and poured the rest over his ashes.  

 

Swim and Fun

These 9-10 boys are super tight.  One of the relay teams one of the swim meets.

LT broke a record!!!

Dressing up as cows to get free chik fil a all day one day.

A bowling afternoon/evening with our close family friends.

Henry is B's coach and always has a herd of duckling children by his side.  Definitely a dedicated and loved coach by these kids!

 

4th of July

These two (and many of their friends), burned the American flag onto their backs.  

Annual raft relay, we came in second.

Love all these kids.