THE MIDWEST TOUR '10

We began our tour on June 24th and arrived in Columbus, Indiana on June 25th to celebrate Pete's parents' 40th wedding anniversary. A surprise party was pulled off at the church where they were married and all of their kids and grandkids were there to honor them as well as other family members and friends. It was a fun day and a fun week to all be together. Pete travelled home to Austin on July 4th and Lori and the kids stayed in Indiana another week enjoying time with grandparents. Lori was also able to see some dear friends... the Mathisons, Kristy Conrad, Michele(Nowicki)Prible, and Amy Mathison. Then we travelled up north to Lori's beloved Sycamore, Illinois where she spent time with dear friends who are like family to her. Even though her parents sold 541 Lincolnshire last summer, Sycamore still feels like home because of the people and the familiar places. Lori's parents flew to Chicago to join Lori and the kids on their trip up to Washington Island, Wisconsin with Ron and Mary Floit and their grandson, Miles. We had a great week on the Island relaxing, enjoying the cool weather and lush, green trees and being with dear friends. We made our way back down to Indiana where Pete flew back to meet us, ending our month at a family reunion and then into the van to drive down to Austin on July 25th. We're already looking forward to next summer's midwest tour and scheming how Pete can join us up north. Ahhhhh..... the midwest.... until next summer.... The happy couple celebrating 40 years of marriage together, surrounded by their 4 kids and spouses and 10 grandkids (11th due in a month) and Barb's 93 year old mom.

We made many fun memories together that week. Here are 5 of the grandkids having fun in Uncle Ben and Aunt Jess's backyard.

A trip to Indiana would not be complete without a visit to Nashville, IN and Brown County State park. Here's Grandma and Grandpa Newell surrounded by their sweet grandchildren all dressed alike.

Silas and Lily loved hanging with their cousins. We miss you boys and girls!!!

Time for sparklers!

After all the cousins left, we enjoyed another trip to Brown County with grandma and grandpa to hike, swim and ride the ponies!

Lily enjoying her pony, Doodle.

On our way to Sycamore, we stopped near Wheaton to spend the night with my dear friend Heather (Griffin) Gosling and her family. Lily and Silas immediately hit it off with her two girls, Abby and Kylie.

Lily and Silas also enjoyed playing with Nolan and Mila Baumgartner (children of Debbie (Pagan) Baumgartner who lives at JPUSA) in Sycamore. They were staying with Kyle and Barb White (friends from Sycamore who also visited us in Austin) and we were staying with Cheryl and Dave Lienhard (more friends who also visited us in Austin). We all got together a couple of times for some fun and fellowship. We also got to connect with Lily and Mason Depauw, children of Anna (Reardon) Depauw (who has plans to visit us in Austin in the near future. :)) Lily and Silas LOVED playing with all of these sweet, dear midwest friends. We can't wait to see you all next time!

And finally they were reunited with their good friend Miles Minard. They all loved being together last summer on the Island, and they quickly reconnected and played like best friends.

Here they are playing in the water outside the Floits' home.

Throwing rocks into the lake on Schoolhouse Beach with B.

The grandparents with their grandchildren on the morning we left. We love you all! Thanks for a great week on the Island!

GOODBYE MILES!!! WE'LL MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

LET THE FUN BEGIN!!

Our summer has been filled already with fun activities like: swim lessons with mommy, a neighborhood sprinkler/lemonade party, visitors from Illinois, a trip to Sycamore for a wedding, hiking, camping and hanging out as a family. We are getting ready today for a month long trip to the midwest beginning in Indiana, then Illinois, Wisconsin and back to Texas. We are excited for what is still to come this summer. Let the good times roll!!!! We had fun celebrating Grandad's birthday in May with all the cousins.

Lily with cousin Olivia.

Lily took this picture. Nice.

Our end of year cookout with our small group. Here are 5 out of the 15 kids in our group. Cuties!

We had a fun camping trip to a nearby State Park with our friends Clark, Natalie and Sammy. The kids had a blast. And we loved being out in God's creation enjoying the simple life.

Lily and Joe hanging out around the fire.

We went on a nice, long hike and after Silas ate a little chocolate he was ready for a nap.

Our really cool kids.

Wow!! Joe is growing up and looking more like a little boy... not a baby.

Joe has recently found his nostrils. Dig it Joe!

Our good friends Maddie and Keegan posing with Lily and Silas. They came with their awesome parents Kyle and Barb White to Austin to visit us. We had a wonderful time with them. Here the kids are at the Salt Lick after a delicious meal of BBQ.

Joe really bonded with Barb. "I miss you Barb"- Joe

Maddie and Keegan babysat our three kids so the adults could go on a date. What a great night! and a great week with the Whites!!! Thank you guys so much for coming to see us!!

Pete stayed home with the kids while Lori flew up to Illinois to go to Ingrid Floit's wedding. What a great weekend I had with mom and dad, hanging out with friends, seeing the Floit family, celebrating Ingrid and Bob's marriage and having a break from motherhood. Thanks Pete! By the way... does anyone notice anything different about Lori's face?

Ingrid, the beautiful bride, with her new husband, Bob. What an awesome wedding, despite the thunderstorm that blew through before and after the ceremony.

Here are 2 more Floit girls, Anna and Mattie with me at the party. It was so fun to see you all!

Mom and Dad showing off on the dance floor. You guys are such an handsome, amazing couple!

Lily and Silas playing out in the rain and having a blast.

IT'S SPRINGTIME!!!!

Lily and Silas enjoying the sprinkler for the first time this year.
This was the perfect birthday date ever. Pete and I rented a canoe at the lake downtown Austin and canoed for a couple of hours while the kids were with B and Grandad. I had an awesome birthday this year and this date was one of the many blessings.

Grandma and Grandpa Newell came into town for a few days. We loved having them here as we enjoyed the Austin Zoo, ate yummy BBQ at the Salt Lick, and of course we had a project day working out in our yard planting plants and trees. Thank you Newells and Foxes for all the work you did for us!!! We love our yard now!

Lily and Silas showing off their certificates for memorizing the Lord's Prayer. Every two weeks they are learning about a new Biblical truth, concept or character trait of the Lord, putting that word into practice and memorizing scripture that relates to the word. They are both excellent students.

It's cousin time! We enjoyed having Easter brunch with my brother, Ron and his family. Here's Silas with his cousin Jordan Fox.

Joe enjoying time with his sweet cousin Evan.

Lily sharing some giggles with cousin Quinn.

The whole gang: Joe, Jordan, Silas, Quinn, Lily, Evan and Olivia.

Superhero Siblings

Sweet little Lil

We loved seeing our old Wheaton friends Seth and Maggie Dietrich, who now live in Milwaukee. Seth is from Austin so whenever they come to visit his padres, we are blessed by a visit with them. Loved being with you guys again!!!

So, here's Silas happily playing on the swing in our backyard. A few minutes later he was playing on the little playscape structure that Pete built and.....

here he is showing off his cast that he got from falling off the playscape. It hasn't slowed him down one bit. Silas is a trooper. Two weeks before this happened he had pink eye and woke up with both eyes shut for an hour. During the time of his "blindness" he was singing in bed and making Joe laugh. He has a great approach to life!

There truly is never a dull moment with Silas. Two days after he broke his arm he was supposedly working on artwork with Lily at their little table. Lily came to me and said, "Mom, Silas cut his hair." When he came to me I touched his head and clumps of hair fell out. He had given himself a haircut to the scalp! I immediately took him to the bathroom and gave him a buzz cut. Lily and I couldn't help laughing at him and his new look.

Silas with his new hairdo.

We celebrated 2 birthdays a couple of weeks ago.... Josiah turned ONE!!! and Pete turned...a little older than he was last year. This year sure did go fast. It's hard to believe that Joe is a 1 year old now.

Enjoying his cake.

He was pretty proud of his birthday gifts, even before he opened them. We love you Joe and we are so thankful the Lord placed you in our family!!!! You are a special blessing to all of us.