The Beauty of Summer

Swimming, vacation, school-free, tv, computer, late nights, and scorching heat.

Summer is a lot of peoples favorite season, but it's not mine. It gets too hot and for big chunks of the time there is nothing to do. So this summer while I was babysitting quite frequently, I decided to test my photography skills and technical knowledge.

So I began to take pictures of flowers, trees, the sky, and other things. I found a cool website that let me edit them for free and soon I had a collection of photos that show the true "Beauty" of summer.

Here are a few:










((And yes I did take all those pictures myself.))

Good bye Evangeline

We had two pet gerbils, Evangeline and Sebastian, today Evangeline died. We will miss her even if she is only a gerbil.

Good bye Evangeline!!!!!!!!!

Just July...

We've had a nice, yet crazy July so far. It really doesn't feel like July. Here are some pictures:









The last three pictures are from today. My mom is doing this Catholic VBS online with my younger siblings and today they made pope hats.

We're almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It finally is beginning to feel like we are almost done with the new house! I'm sorry I haven't gotten a chance to post an update in a while, but we have been busy! Okay so on to the pics....

Inside Grammy's apartment, her side windows:


The outside view of her side windows:


Her living room and kitchen:


Her hall:



My bedroom is primed and just about ready for paint!


Claire and Rose:


Grammy's shower:



Our shower in our downstairs bathroom:


The slip-and-slide my mom made:


My parents putting up our trampoline:


I had to throw this picture in. A few days ago a groundhog got his head stuck in our fence here at our currant house. Finally our neighbors were able to get him out, but he was stuck in the fence for hours!

Just Chillin'

We've had a hot crazy June, but it's been nice as well. A few days ago my mom made this big slip-and-slide at our new house and she and my dad put up a trampoline.

It's been a nice June, and I can't believe it's almost over. This year is going by way too fast!

More work!!!!!!!

Grammy's apartment and our part of the house are progressing splendidly! My windowwell is finished, and my window is in. Grammy's three front windows and two giant side windows and her front door are in! Our upstairs bathroom is almost done; all the glue is off the walls.

Grammy's front door and three front windows:



Side view:


The holes for her side windows:


The view:




My bedroom, see it has walls!


My window:




My window well:


Our downstairs bathroom is getting a shower. The floor is almost ready!


So there you are. The more recent update. I can't wait to move in! It will be a lot better then our too-small-for-nine-people house. ☺

Number 7!

By now I think just about everyone reading this blog knows about this.

My mom is going to have another baby! Cecilia is begging God for twins, Luke and Lucy, although my parents and I prefer them one at a time.

Wow, for some strange reason, being the oldest of 7 sounds like a lot more then 6. Rose wants a girl, John Paul and Max want another brother.

We love you all!

Happy Birthday Emmy!

June 5th was Emily Anthony's 4th birthday. Her birthday is a little over a week before Rose's and Rose and Emily are like best friends. They ask to play with each other everyday and since they live behind us, it isn't hard to arrange play-dates.
Since we were still at the beach on Emily's actual birthday the waited to have her party until Sunday the 7th. It was another pool party at Aunt Jackie's mom's house, and perfect for the hot summer day we had!

Happy 4th birthday Emily!

Topsail Island 2009!

Last week our family went to Topsail Island in NC with the Schultz's. It was so much fun! I know, I know, I put up too many pictures. Although really compared to the amount we took.....

Anyway, we drove down on Saturday and met up with the Schultz's at the beach house. The weather was gorgeous, no rain or cloudy days! The water was warm and the sand was perfect for sandcastles!


Saturday night us girls went out to the beach in the dark with our camping lantern.



We celebrated Nate's 8th birthday on Saturday night after dinner. Happy B-day Nate!


Walking along the beach...


Chilling in the game/attic/girls room.


Aunt Cathy loves to read on the beach.



Looking at shells...


Playing Apples to Apples


Clouds....


Nate, Max and Ben.


Sunset



Benny...



We caught a crab one day, Nate bravely held it!



Blowing bubbles...


Rose and Max played along the beach together.



My mom brought along a little bubble kiddie pool which we would fill with only an in. of water. Ben loved it!


Max and my Mom playing Chinese Checkers:



Swimming:


A very impressive sandcastle!


Rose fell asleep on the beach on day:


Grammy enjoyed the view from the deck: (Our house is the one on the right side)



Ben and Rose loved splashing in the water!


Playing:


The house had a nice sized dinning/living/kitchen area. We all fit comfortably!


Wednesday morning I woke up early with my brothers and we took a walk along the beach as the sun rose.


Watching another sandcastle being destroyed by the waves.



Building yet another sandcastle:


Ben loved blowing bubbles:


Storm clouds, although we never got the storm:


Defending another sandcastle:


All the cousins:


The picture at the top of the blog is of our whole family on the beach! We had an amazing time. It was so nice.