CHERRY HILL REUNION

Our family had a great reunion at Cherry Hill last Saturday, despite the cool temperatures. Seeing those babies smile, watching grandchildren play in the water, my children run up the hill and down the slides, was great fun for this mom and grandma. I loved having a day together - just having fun. It's wonderful watching how they interact together, support one another with their children, play together and just have fun talking with one another. Aren't families great? I'm so grateful for mine.






Beautiful Cherry Hill view with Jon in foreground. The "lazy river" goes around this area. Our family is having so much fun here.



Sariah and Janie having fun, despite the chilly day.



Dave giving this crazy-picture-taking-grandma a great smile!



Lazy river fun....babies loved it!




BJ, 3 years old, ready to go play - life jacket ready!



Brian and BJ entering Pirates Cove



Big day... tired Daddy Mike, but Ella still awake and wants to play.



Kylie opening her birthday presents (now 9 years old). We gave her a Build-a-Bear Monkey. She named her Ally.



I love this picture of Savannah and Janelle. I'm so glad Savannah is healing so fast! She looks a 100% better in less than 10 days. Children heal so quickly!

Highs & lows in July

In the month of July, we tried to finish up details in our construction project. Here we are taking time to relax in our new room with the Carlston family (Laura's other family - inlaws).



Laura & Mike at Japanese Teriyaki restaurant for my birthday.



Grandson's day at Boondocks with Christopher, Zac and Kyle. The boys loved the go-karts, bumper boats, miniature golf and lazer tag. This grandma had fun watching.






The day after our fun day at Boondocks with my grandson's, Savannah had a terrible bike accident. Luckily she was wearing a helmet! She had to undergo oral surgery to put her teeth in her lower jaw back together. She also broke her right wrist. Poor girl. It's so hard to see grandchildren in pain!

Janie & Ella in July

It's been an awesome month having Laura's sweet family here. It's been fun watching these 10 month old babies become acquainted and react with each other. Their personalities and development are so different. It's so fun to watch their reactions to one another. Ella seems more socially aggressive and Janie likes her space. They are both such beautiful grand-daughters. I truly feel blessed.



I love their eyes! Both so expressive and accepting.




Here Janie and her dad Mark, enjoying silliness together... Janie's quite a bit like her daddy.



It's been so delightful to watch these babies scoot, roll, walk with help, etc.



Whoa... what a look!



Ella enjoying an evening on the swing with her daddy, Mike.



Sorry picture sideways... love those eyes.



Ella loves help walking... we have all had fun with her grabbing our fingers and taking off wherever she wants to go.



Fun "Girls Day" at the Zoo. Here's Kylie and Janie posing.



At the Bird show - Savannah, Kylie and their favorite aunt.... Janelle!



Courtney holding Janie.... I call this her "popeye look"!



Laura and Ella after the Carosel



Lunch at Wendy's after the zoo -- Savannah and Kylie.



Pool-side with Janie and Ella-- they love the water.



Fun shot at the zoo in their strollers



What a bathing beauty!



Grandpa with Janie at Old Meeting house for my niece Andrea's wedding.



Mark's cute family - wife Sariah and baby Janie up on a hike to the Day's family cabin.



Laura, Mike and Ella at the Doermann wedding.



I love being a grandma! These grandchildren bring me so much joy! Each one is unique, bright and beautiful! I'm so very blessed.

Alaskan Get-away

In mid June, we took a break from construction projects and drove to Seattle to begin a cruise to Alaska embarking on Norweigan Pearl. I'm so excited!



Jon, Janelle & I are enjoying the change of pace and this fun get-away.



Our "group" on the cruise -- with friend of Janelle's, Keri Corfield and her parents and family.



Beautiful Glacier Bay National Park.



Gorgeous Alaskan sunset... one of many.



Jon and I on our anniversary, taken from Janelle's balcony off her room with beautiful Alaska and twin ship in rear.



Jon and Janelle on the top deck of the Norweigen Pearl.



Janelle inside beautiful rose gardens in the gorgeous Butchart gardens.



Jon, Janelle and I in Butchart Gardens.



We had a wonderful vacation and break. I didn't want to go home, but we enjoyed the road trip down part of the Oregon coast, then to Portland and Multinomah Falls. We arrived home to find Laura & Mike and sweet darling Ella.