Lemon Challenge

I bought this cute little tray in at Target and thought it was the perfect theme for a family challenge.

What can we make when life gives us lemons?

Victoria actually invited some friends over to do the challenge first. She made lemon cake bars. Super yummy. Jeff made minty lemonade and lemon chicken and Amber made

Katherine made lemon bars.

They were so good. 

I made lemon curd, which didn't photography well, but was delicious on waffles! 

We can make amazingly sweet things!

We can create our futures -

perfect reminder for difficult times.

 

July Jumble

Beautiful nature!

Katherine is enjoying this cute no-sew fleece blanket that she made.

Green beans from our garden! We had them with about 4 or 5 dinners this summer, which was pretty good for only a few bean plants.

We had a fun playdate with Reid riding bikes at the school. They also had a dance battle! 

Shopping cart vs. the sprinkler.

Cute throwback picture that I posted on Craig's birthday!

We are enjoying the sailboat!

Grant hadn't been in a pool all summer, so V took him with her to work to play for the hour that she worked before the pool opened. She got permission first. He was happy to hang out with her.

Tons of geese in the neighborhood this day!

Victoria wanted to have our undivided attention, so she set up a specific time to talk to us about future plans. She was so funny and smart to dress up for the meeting. She will definitely do big things.

Bounce House

Katherine and Grant and I had the bounce house to ourselves for a few hours! It was really fun to get out of the house and get some energy out!

 

Shopping with Geema

Geema started a tradition to take the grandkids shopping before they start middle school, so she took Grant and Orion this year. They had a really fun time and she spoiled Grant with so many nice things. Then, they drove him home and treated us all to ice cream at the Old Country Store. Very Kind!

!

 

Food Distribution Saturdays

Our family has enjoyed helping with food distribution for those in need in our community. The food comes in on a big truck from the USDA and we arrange the pallets into lines. Then, we pack grocery bags full of food and long lines of cars drive through and pick them up. So many people have lost jobs or have taken pay cuts, so this has helped so many people. My kids have loved it. Serving others always feels good.

Katherine is such a hard worker!

 

Christian's first job!

Christian got his first job this summer. He is a life guard at 3 Flags pool. We are proud of him for his work ethic and know that he will do a good job!

 

Walk at Yowell Meadow Park

Walk at Yowell Meadow Park

 

Swim Team

 

Katherine started swim team today and was very happy about it. It is a shortened season and is only practice- no meets. They are divided into shifts so that only a couple swimmers are in each line. Victoria's best friend, Jeff, is Katherine's coach!

Peach Picking

Katherine, Grant, and I had a great time peach picking at Carter Mountain! I love special outings like these!

 

Our little pets

We have a little family of toads who live in the basement window well. They are cute and fun to watch and check on from time to time. This is a little friend who I was able to babysit the other day. She liked them too.
 

Back to church

We finally went back to church!

 

It was a little different because only 25 people can attend at a time (people are going in multiple shifts) on alternate Sundays.

I was the speaker today and spoke about gathering.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uonwcMVkK6nEMFbYqqsNH-0fqIL4SWKQWiU-EY1crw4/edit?usp=sharing

It was nice to gather with some of our ward today and we look forward to gathering as a whole ward again in the future. 

 

7-11

 

7-11 gave out a free medium slurpee on the app this year for 7/11/2020, Grant got to be the lucky recipient. Despite his face in this pic, he enjoyed his two flavor creation!

Christian's 15th birthday

Christian had to wake up really early on his birthday this year. He had a lifeguard training at 6:00 a.m. in Charlottesville! He took a box of donuts to share with his friends in the the car on the way there. I think that it was too early to even eat them until the way back.

That night we had a fun family party to celebrate his 15th birthday!

 

Ramen Taste Test challenge for C

Inside the balloons were 15 things  that we love about Christian. He is pretty lovable. 

Chinese for dinner

We played games after dinner. Pictured is cut the flour.

We also had a game eating gummy worms that were buried in whipped cream.

Love you, Buddy!