This summer is flying by, am I right?!!

There are a lot of friends that live here near us that say the same thing – because we have not done a lot of summer like activities because of the weather.

It’s already mid July and we have hardly swam in the pool, have yet to have a camp fire as a whole family, or scheduled our overnight camping in the backyard!

It seems between the weather and the more urgent things on our plates right now, summer is slipping by.

Thankfully there are things like the 4th of July that have us slow down and enjoy a long weekend together!!

We started that weekend all running in different directions.

I had a bridal shower to attend on Saturday morning.

It was SO LOVELY and I heard the BEST devotional I have ever heard at a bridal shower!

I want to remember the encouragement and challenge it was to us ladies forever!!

I came home just in time for another very stormy and rainy afternoon.

BUT – can we just talk about the clouds??

Thank you for putting up with the author of this blog who is obsessed with the sky.

You are so kind!

Rain meant it was time to find a way to enjoy life inside, again.

So we made a cake!

Played games!

And I read aloud to some kiddos while they found something to do while they listened.

It was a very nice afternoon!!

Pretty soon it was time to feed the masses, and by masses I mean three young men and then the rest of us.

They work hard and come home hungry!!

These potatoes were a huge hit – ranch dressing and cheddar cheese potatoes!

Grant grilled some chicken for me in the rain, and we had salads with the potatoes.

I, of course, made a sweet potato for me!

Hi, it’s me.

I don’t get in many photos, do I?

I took this photo to show a friend I was chatting with my new dress.

I’ve had some good finds in very cute dresses this year!!

Monday morning we woke up to almost everyone home.

Throwing you under the bus, Chad, since you were the only one not here, ahem!

Don’t worry though, he came back soon enough to be with us for the afternoon and evening!

I made a BIG breakfast and we enjoyed a leisurely morning!!

What’s that??

It’s been awhile!!!

I made sure the kiddos did their Monday chores even though it was a holiday, well, because there are a lot of bodies in this small house and it is just better that way – trust me!

This is my “tell me you have a dog without telling me you have a dog” photo.

Did you know I chose the “color” of our floors when we finished this house based on the color of our lab, Sadie Jo?

Well, I did!

I know, I know – so smart, right?

After our leisure and chores were done, the guys took us down to Grant’s new house to see the progress!

We had been banned from there for many weeks now as they skim coated the walls and sanded and sanded and sanded them!

I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET TO SEE EVERYTHING!!

The grey looks much darker in these photos than it does in real life – but it was raining all day on the 4th of July.

Of course it was!

Also, that is just sanding dust on that beautifully refinished hardwood floor – it vacuumed right up!

Now we are working on painting all the trim – more on that in another post!

Pretty soon it was time to get ready for our favorites to join us for burgers for dinner!

Thankfully we found out around 5 p.m. that the fireworks were still going to happen since the rain had stopped!

This guy is just a party looking for a place to happen, and I love the joy and laughter he brings to our home SO much.

Addie Mae was home so she made everyone a pretty and delicious 4th of July dessert!

Then we headed to Viroqua for the fireworks.

I’m not sure if they had trouble because it was so wet, or what – but the firework show had a lot of lulls in it.

We would wonder “is that it?” and then more would start!

It was still fun though!!

Can we have a moment about this first photo?

And the size and age of Lane?

Either cry with me over that or say some prayers!!

After the fireworks were over, an elderly woman (who had been sitting near us with her husband) came over to us and said, “I have enjoyed your children and family so much tonight! My family is all grown and gone…please don’t take one day of this time in your lives for granted.”

Cue all the tears!

She was such a sweet lady!!

What a great weekend!!

It was SO fun to be ALL together!!

That is my favorite way to spend ANY day!!

And it’s rare these days!!

Hope you all had a GREAT 4th of July too!

Until next time….