Summer Splash Party!

Gramma sent out invitations to all the grandkids for a Summer Splash Party on July 30th. My kids were SO excited--asking everyday if it was Wednesday because that's when Gramma said the party was! And, in typical Andrea Yount fashion, the party was AMAZING!! I'm telling you (as I've repeatedly told her) she should be a party planner/designer. She definately has a gift! Everything follows a theme and no detail is left out from start to finish. Her dinners, parties, showers, etc. are nothing short of WOW. The pool was full of "sea life" and there was a matching table full of rubber sea life and water-loving animals, the sandwiches and watermelon were cut in the shapes of dolphins and whales, the jello snacks were mini oceans-in-a-cup: crushed nilla wafers for "sand", then the blue jello "water" and cool whip for the "waves" where the gummy shark was jumping out! The tower of cupcakes were decorated like beach balls and ocean waves with fish jumping out of the tops! All the kids had splash-bomb animals and sunshines at their place-setting and each got to pick out a water gun for the water battle after lunch. Then they all relaxed at the end of a long, fun day to watch "Finding Nemo". Gramma topped it off by sending each kid home with a "bucket of fun" full of water goggles, candies, toys, themed washcloths, etc. What a great day!!

Celebrating Pap Sherd's Birthday!

We celebrated my Dad's birthday (Aug. 2nd) by spending this past weekend with him and the rest of my family. What a fun time! We spent time at Critter Country, which is owned by my Uncle Tim's friend, Laurie and her husband Rob. I didn't get any photos there but basically they turned their yard and surrounding acreage into a small zoo! It was a great time. We also enjoyed the church picnic on Sunday afternoon at Flatwoods Park(which coincindentally is where Daryl will be doing his next project and just happens to be minutes from my aunt & uncle's house as well as the rest of my entire family! So we will all head south of Pittsburgh for the duration of the job and spend time with my family! YAY!). The park has a large pool and kiddie pool, sand volleyball court, playground, sandbox--its great! And any time my family gets together there is usually a water battle of some kind--doesn't matter what the weather may be...if its cold outside, you can bet that it won't stop the water from flying in the house! Needless to say a HUGE water battle broke out during the picnic and it wasn't the kiddos who instigated it! The funniest part was watching my 79-years-young Grandma running from my kids water guns!! And before it was all over my Uncle Tim was in the kiddie pool, fully clothed, with the kids having a blast! Of course, he was already soaked from the water battle :) My kids are really looking forward to going back. And I am CERTAIN that the adults had just as much fun as the kids!

Budding Photographer??

Brayden often confiscates my camera. He returns with a plethora of photos.

Found this photo while uploading more July shots to the computer.

Entitled: Our dinner table on the screened-in porch from Brayden's perspective-through-the-lens.

Love seeing things from his point of view!

Celebrating Phia's first year

BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

Sophia is 1 today!! Here's a look back to what we were doing one year ago...I am so thankful to not be there right now :)







...and some glimpses of Sophia's first year:















What a blessed year it has been with Sophia added to our family. She is our (almost)always smiley-face! She has such a great disposition...I pray that it carries through all of her life. She adores her family--especially Brayden, Savannah, and, more recently, Grampa! The highlight of her day is anything with her brother and sister; they're the first ones she looks for when she awakes and the last ones she hugs and kisses before bed. The year has passed so quickly :( I'm thankful for pictures and video to capture some of the many moments that we cherish. Before long she too will be heading off to school :( For now, she's conquering and exploring everything around her, soaking in all the love and adoration from her siblings, and growing like a weed!

Happy first birthday, sweet Sophia Kathryn! We love you soooooooooooo much!

Finally

For all our "blog-junkies" out there...here's some random photos from the past few weeks. I'll try to upload more as the day goes on...so keep checkin' back for the add-ons!

THE LATEST: Sophia's 1st birthday is on Wednesday...CRAZY!!!!!! I'm heading to work in the O.R. Wednesday through Friday. It's hot and humid--but a blessed day nonetheless. I ran a 5K on July 4th! So did my older sister, Shelli...and she did it in a better time than me...WOO HOO, SHELL (I just wish we could have run one together)! My older sister is a phenomenal athlete so I am not a bit surprised :) Sophia's getting two more teeth to add to the six she has. She's also cruising furniture and attempting some free-stands. My teeth are almost completely straight and turned in all the right directions thanks to the chains they have on there--the past few weeks has been a bit painful in the mouth :) Daryl is working way too hard, but we're thankful that the Lord provides! And his hair has been growing again--he's had to shave it three times now!! Savannah sings almost non-stop throughout the day. Her songs bless my heart and my day. She also says parts of John 3:16 any time she opens a book or folded piece of paper :) If I say it with her, she easily gets the whole thing. We're also in the process of weaning her from thumb-sucking :( Its starting to really mess up her top teeth. Brayden started writing letters much to our surprise. B, M, S, and J are his favorites. I haven't pushed it or even sat with him for a "lesson", he just did it one evening at the dinner table. He's REALLY looking forward to preschool in the fall!!

Oh, and thank you a million times over for the phone calls and messages of love and prayer and encouragement. It has carried me (and Daryl) through the past few weeks.

Sophia tasting some dirt

Brayden showing off his new skill

Savannah and two of her second cousins (Ethan and Elise)checking out the turtle in Cincinnati, OH

Sweet Savannah

Daryl playing his guitar on our screened-in porch during a recent storm--it was beautiful (the playing and the storm). We had a rainbow over our house!