July 2011

We spend the first month of summer working on the house...painting a few rooms, demolishon, wall prep, plaster, etc. Can't wait to turn our basement recycling room into a real part of our home. On July 1 we caught up with Uncle John and his big red rig in Greenville. So happy Uncle John that you were passing through and we got to spend the evening together for dinner and ice cream. We had a great canoe/kayak trip with the Steyers and Blumenstocks later that weekend. I always give Rob a little ribbing when the water is low in the Greenville but we still had fun and the creek was beautiful. We stopped along the way for a nice lunch and some cool drinks. Aunt Margaret and Uncle John were so sweet to come up from Cincinnati to play with the kids all day.

Uncle John always keeps them entertained.

Erin.

Isaac

We spend the rest of the 4th of July weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Winner and the rest of the Winner/Homan family playing, eating and relaxing. They kids love to spend time at the farm and get suckers in the meat shop. Andrew says he is going to work at the meat shop and drive a motorcycle like "the guys."

Lauren

Isaac...again looking innocent. Later he pushed this piece of wood down the slide
and it hit andrew in the head which was followed by blood and screaming. Luckily
we got away without a trip to the hospital this time.

Abby

Anna & Grandma

Isaac started cleaning up and dumping a few drinks out.
Good to know the kids are making sure no one is overindulging.

Kelly keeping an eye on some tired kids.

The second weekend we went camping with a great group of friends and family at New Paris. So excited that Greg, Tanya, Lauren, Abby and Anna joined us. I love watching the kids enjoy their cousins. Lauren and Andrew are calling each other best friends which is so sweet. We had much better weather than the heat wave and turential down poor from last year. Thanks to Mawlk for keeping Isaac stocked up on "hot meat" AKA pepperoni. We had great sites right next to the playground so the kids were busy the entire time. One night the kids had some playdoh out and Isaac was rolling some up. We asked him what he was making and he reported. "sausages for grandpa." :)

Anna, Abby, Lauren

I learned to ride my bike  - no training wheels!

Becky, Sarah, Kim

Chad & Matt

Isaac, Lauren, Leah, Andrew

Isaac making "sausage"

Bryce

Graham, Hilary, Bryson

Isaac & Matt

Karla, Amy, Erin, Hilary, Graham, Sarah

Abby & Andrew

Happy Birthday 6th to our beautiful neice Lauren Marie on the 15th.

Nana & Poppop came up to visit and corral the little ones while Rob and I began paining a few rooms in our house. It was nice and hot but we are very happy to have it done.

We spend a wonderful morning with the Steyers in late July celebrating Greyson's life. They had an amazing day filled with entertainers, bouce houses, pony rides, bubbles, snow cones, caricatures, hot dogs, games and prizes. Rob wasn't feeling well so he didn't make the party but he did rally to make it to Keisha and Brian's wedding for a few hours later that evening. It was a beautiful reception and Keisha was stunning in her Vera Wang dress. I even got a new dress myself. Yah. Nancee was kind enough to join me for a relaxing evening of shopping earlier that week. We rounded off the weekend with a 11 hour trip to Sandbridge, Virginia for the Gulick/Durkin vacation. Great week of pool/sun/beach. Andrew and Isaac loves the water and Andrew is making some real progress with his swimming. We enjoyed some excellent time with Aunt Nancy and my mom's cousins from NJ and Colorado.

pics to come later...