A Festive Fourth

We had a great 4th of July and have been going like crazy ever since.  Especially this past week with sunshine and warm summer temps.  It's officially against all rules to do any housework, watch any TV, or spend exorbitant amounts of time in front of a computer on days like that, ya know.

On the morning of the 4th, I finished up some sugar cookies that I made for the annual picnic with our church family.  This was my first attempt at decorating with royal icing.  The results were about as I had expected except that is took a LONG time to decorate each cookie.  If I decorate cookies like this again, I think I might be able to shave a little time off and get them done quicker, but I'm sure they will still take a while to complete.  This is the recipe/tutorial that I used in case you're interested.  I'll have to post my sugar cookie recipe sometime.  I know everyone has a recipe they prefer, and well, so do I! :)  So I'd like to share mine with you too.

Once the cookies were done, picnic things packed up, and we had ourselves ready, I loaded up the kiddos and headed downtown to the parade.  This always ends up being a highlight for my kids every year.  They love seeing all the entries walking by them.  The little miss said her favorite part of the parade was a supped up car that had fire shooting out of it's exhaust.  The little man says his favorite part was when float riders threw candy.

 

 

The little babe enjoyed the parade just like this...the entire time.  He really never moved--just sat there in his stroller peeking his eyes out from under his hood.

 

The Juneau Volunteer Marching Band
always a good performance

more peeking

My friend, Beth,

and her husband, Andy, with the Green's Creek Mine parade entry.
Andy isn't known to be much a smiler (especially in pictures), so I'm a little proud of myself for catching his smile in the picture.  Just wish the rest of the photo wasn't overexposed.  I was having a hard time keeping up with the changing light conditions with sun playing peek a boo with the clouds.

And we also got to see our favorite police officer.  A nice treat for these parade watchers.  Actually this was what our little man said was his second favorite part of the parade.  I'd say it was my favorite too.

Hope you had a fabulous 4th too!

Little Swimmers

 We started out our summer with swimming lessons for both of our older two kiddos.  These were the first for the little man, but not for the little missy.  But these weren't just any swimming lessons.  They happened to be at the NEW pool in Juneau.  This isn't just any pool of water.  We're talking multiple slides, fun wading pools, a whirlpool area--and, hey--it's new!  Both kids were ecstatic about swimming there.

 

They both did great and are already looking forward to the next time they get to take a dip in the pool.

  

A Time for Everything

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Tuesday morning started VERY early for me with a phone call from the husband of my good friend.  My friend was in labor, they were at the hospital, and their 3 year old daughter would be dropped off at my house by another friend on their way to work.  I was excited for the impending arrival of this little one--I almost couldn't go back to sleep.  He did indeed come on that day.  It was his time to be born.

Tuesday night ended with another phone call.  This one came from my mom telling me that her dad, my grandpa had passed away.  Naturally, I was sad to hear he had gone, but I was also relieved for him.  Relieved that he was no longer in pain due to the lung cancer he had been fighting for the past few years.  The last few years have been tough on my grandparents, epecially the past few months.  As my grandma says, "growing old isn't for wimps".

The comforting news is that my Grandpa was a wonderful man that loved God even more than he loved and cared for his family.  His involvement with God's church family was more than just a routine, it was a reflection of his true love for God.  I remember many Sunday mornings at their house, while staying for the weekend, when Grandpa would be busy preparing to go to church where he would often lead singing.  The sound of his strong bass voice will ring clear in my memory.

He also enjoyed having and using a hot tub.  When I was very young I remember diving into the center of the hot tub thankful for what seemed like my own personal heated pool that Grandpa and Grandma kept ready for me to use when I came for a visit. 

Gardening was a huge hobby for Grandpa and he loved tending to things in his green house or the yard.  I always wanted him to show me the lastest plants and flowers that were growing and blooming in his green house.  I particularly loved to see his huge Bird of Paradise plant.

There were also so many summer time outings that I can recall going on as a child with my grandparents and cousins.  Every one I can think of included Grandpa driving, Grandma packing up the trusty picinic basket with lunch, and us cousins piled into the back of their car.  He was always happy to take us on adventures to places near their home.

But even more than those childhood memories, the one I think of with the fondest affection was when my grandparents visited me and their first great grandchild in the hosptial.  The little missy was just a few hours old when they arrived.  I'm pretty sure they dropped what they were doing and started the two hour trek to the hospital within an hour of getting a phone call.  The joy in seeing their first grandchild was evident on both of their faces.  I'm so thankful for the photo above that Shawn took of Grandpa holding the little missy--it's my favorite of him.

His kind, gentle, faithful and loving life was an amazing example for many.  I will miss him, especially his strong and loving hugs, but I'm glad he has been relieved of his earthly pain and can rest with God in heaven.

Love you, Grandpa!