I turned 30 and enjoyed a birthday blueberry pie from my mom - a tradition that has rarely been missed in the past 24 years.
We enjoyed fireworks in Wahoo just a couple of blocks from our house. Lydia was a little emotional about the loud noises because she was exhausted but did SO well!
I don't know which show was more impressive - the one put on by our city or the one we saw from our bedroom window after we got home. There are some BIG fireworks that are legal around here.
We enjoyed a picnic and lake day at the home of some of our church family.
The sound of the boat put Lydia to sleep. :)
Jonah went tubing for the first time. I think it is safe to say he LOVED it!
Lydia enjoyed hanging out with friends from church
Our church hosted VBS July 22-26. I directed the week. Mike taught 4th graders and led the dancing during the opening and closing video sessions by Go Fish. Jonah was in the pre-kindergarten class. And, Lydia and Silas hung out in the nursery all week. We had a fantastic week that God truly blessed. Over 85 kids from our area were exposed to the gospel!
Thursday of VBS was water day where we set up a water slide for the kids during their recreation time. Silas got to enjoy the water slide with the pre-kindergarteners. They were all so kind to him as he would go down then run back up the hill and budge in line so he could go down again.
This guy was having a blast!
During VBS week, Mike and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. It was such a busy week that we weren't able to take much time to ourselves. Our way to celebrate this year was to share a DQ blizzard after the kids were in bed...one day our anniversary will be more exciting, right?!
The Sunday after VBS we had a combined worship service with another church in our town at our county fairgrounds. It was a beautiful morning - cool with a slight breeze, so unlike the 90+ and humid we were expecting as the preparations were being made. Mike led a worship team made up of musicians from both churches. Pastor Don from the other church brought the message. After the service, we enjoyed a potluck lunch together. What a blessing to not only belong to our church family but to belong to the body of Christ that extends beyond our church walls!
I tried to get a nice picture of Lydia and me as she is wearing a super cute dress that my mom got for her. None of them turned out, but I love this one because it so accurately shows life in our family - Silas hanging on my leg, Lydia pushing away from me and trying to pull Silas' hair, me trying to keep us all together. We are blessed!
I worked extra this month. Usually, I work 2 days a week but covered a vacation for a co-worker by working a full week. Moms of young kids who work full-time - I seriously have no idea how you do it. The week after VBS and our combined worship service, I worked Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, we headed for Minnesota to spend a few days with Mike's parents and to attend an 85th birthday party for my Grandma Nelson.
We spent one day at Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America. The boys loved riding all of the rides. Jonah was tall enough to go on a few of the roller coasters and other "big" rides with a chaperone. I love roller coasters so it was great to be able to begin to share it with him.
Silas really enjoyed driving these semi-trucks
Jonah went on the kiddie roller coaster with Uncle Josh
Friday was the birthday party for my grandma. We met at a park by the Mississippi river and Minnehaha Falls. It was a gorgeous day with perfect weather for spending the day outside.
Almost all of my extended family made it back for the party. I think there was only 1 cousin and a few spouses that weren't there.
Lydia and Great Grandma
Lydia with 2 of my cousins - she made the rounds and had a great time with everyone!
Grandma with my dad and his 3 sisters
Grandma with her grandchildren
Grandma with her great-grandchildren
Grandma with just our family
Just the Rues
We took a walk over to Minnehaha Falls - there was good amount of water flowing that day
After the party, we stopped by my Grandma Kapusta's house for a quick visit.
This girl really likes playing with cars & trucks
Lydia Lucille with Great-Grandma Lucille
That night we were back at Mike's parents house and enjoyed roasting marshmallows and making smores on a beautiful evening.
The next day we packed up and headed back to Nebraska so we would be ready for church on Sunday.
Our crazy busy month of July was so much fun but so exhausting for all of us! We are thankful for a mostly quiet month of August, for time to rest, to enjoy our family, to get ourselves ready for September when all of our school-year activities start back up again.
"I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable." Psalm 145:1-3
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