Summer in the city (of Friendswood)

Baby Ben is ready to hit the neighborhood swimming pool in his nifty new swim suit and hat.

The girls and I had a movie date, followed  by lunch at Cheddars, where Uncle Carl was our server.

Aiden came up with the idea of doing a lemonade stand.

The library had a fun summer program for children (and the adults who accompanied them!).

Our 4th of July barbecue was the best. Not only did we have Sweet Baby Ray Barbecue Sauce, but we had our own very Sweet Baby Rae!

The rain didn't cancel the firework show in Friendswood.

Jessica and her beau, Dr. Cameron, and Lady enjoyed the fireworks under an umbrella. 

 At the end of the summer, I took Elayna on a  birthday lunch date to Friendswood's ladies' tea room.  Then we went school clothes shopping as a specialresent to celebrate entering high school. What! Just yesterday our first grandchild was born!

Kyla memorized all the Articles of Faith, so I took her on a D.Q Blizzard date.

Lorelei got to have her own special library date.

This summer in the city was much warmer than our previous two summers it New York, but it was so great to be back with family, enjoying leisurely activities and grandchildren.

A few random late April, early May events

As you can see, I'm playing "catch-up" with my blog -- almost there. Here are a few random early summer events.

At the end of April, Carl and I completed our first semester as Church Service missionaries for Pathway, an inspired higher education program through BYU Idaho that is mainly online, but gives students the support of meeting weekly with their fellow students. How we love meeting this this group every Thursday evening. As you can tell, they are pretty terrific and so much fun to be with.
(A few are missing in this photo.)

We got to go to the temple for the very first time with a grandchild, Elayna, accompanying her on a . youth baptism trip.

We finally got to meet our niece Kristyn's first baby, Chase, or "Beau". This cutie was born about the same time as Andy's Emmett.

We had such a fun evening when two of our "Brockport daughters", former N.Y. Rochester missionaries who lived in our same mission apartment complex in the Eerie Canal city of Brockport,visited us. 

Diana Johnson was so sweet to bring flowers. A few months later, in October, she became Mrs. Stoddard, marrying one of the Elders who also served at the same time.

Natalie Raines Dressman brought along her husband. These newlyweds had just permanently moved to Houston, after graduating from college and finding jobs here. 

Well, just to keep life even more exciting, Carl had a close call with his pocket knife while working out in the garage, and ended up in the emergency room (note the finger in a brace). He avoided hand surgery by fractions of an inch. A tendon was almost severed. Never a dull moment around here.

(He doesn't like it when I post photos of him like this online, but we won't tell him.)

The end of an eventful April and beginning of May 2014

Following our trip to Utah, and our cruise, Carl and I had a little more excitement (not the good kind), when our youngest, "little" Carl ended up in the emergency room. We had quite a scare. The doctors, along with a priesthood blessing, pulled him through, and after a day of observation, we were able to take him home. 

                                     

The first week of May, we headed to Vidor where we cheered grandkids Aiden and Ava on as they participated in their school's track and field events.

After lunch with Dahlia, we headed back to the school to cheer Aiden on. 

He got first place in all his individual events.

Two days later, our family gathered, on May 4th, for sweet Rae's baby blessing.

Jeremy did a great job in giving his very first baby blessing.

These two cousins, Lorelei and Dahlia, enjoyed the dinner Nicole had prepared, but most of all, enjoy every opportunity to be together.

Lorelei crashed on the rug after dinner.

Our final gathering for May was Mother's Day. Philip called all the way from Taiwan, China. Jeremy surprised me with this original artwork. All the kids were so sweet in remembering me and I am so grateful to be their mother.

Easter 2014

We arrived home from the cruise the day before Easter Sunday. It was fun celebrating with the family after having been in New York for the past two Easters. 

Our oldest grandchild, 13 year old Elayna, wasn't too old for the Easter egg hunt. 

                                      

                           

                          

Baby Rae, 2 months old, slept through her first egg hunt.

                             

The rest of the weekend, she was surrounded by admirers.

                         

Her biggest admirer is her Daddy.

                                  

Baby Ben wasn't too happy wearing bunny ears.

We enjoyed Lauren's Easter Bunny Cake. I think this tradition started with Aunt Sharon, who made them at family Easter gatherings when our kids were little.

             

These two (Lorelei and Dahlia) enjoy being with each other. They were born just two weeks apart.

I think baby Rae agrees that the only thing that would have made the Easter celebration more perfect would to have her Utah and Minnesota cousins, Emmett, Colby, and Saige, with us. 

We are so thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ, who gives us all good things and makes it possible for us to be with our precious families forever.