Our Life Reviewed Through Pictures

Soon after our trip to Wisconsin, we got back and Thayne opened his mission call to the Belgium, Brussels/Netherlands Mission. He was a little concerned that he wouldn't leave until a few weeks into September when he wants to begin school soon after he returns, but relatives assured him that it can still be arranged, and we think it's cool that he'll be around when the baby's born.

The dangerous weapon I got Patrick for his birthday was a water balloon slingshot. He and Keith attempted to test it when Thayne and Savannah arrived at their house. I don't think Thayne got wet at all, but they did get Savannah who was standing next to him. Below is Patrick's first time testing it. I think it works pretty well.

Below is after Patrick's birthday celebrations. We had two wrapping paper rolls laying around probably finished off with his birthday presents. There's one picture of Michelle and Aimee both beating up on him, but this one is funnier because of Michelle's expression and Patrick's posture. I think this whole episode scared Michelle's baby, Cosette, a little, but I guess if she's going to get to know Patrick then she'll have to get used to sudden attacks and outbursts like this.

Once a month (usually on the first Sunday of the month) we get together with all the nearby family and have a family dinner. For July, we are a week late so that everyone could be there. I'm excited because we're in charge of dessert and I have a cinnamon cake recipe that's so good that we're going to make. This is from last month. It was the first time we'd had the dinner at Julie and Dallas's house. I think their son is taking the picture here of Bethany and Randi. Bethany likes to say the two of them are sisters. Though they are cousins in reality, they do have fun together.

Here's Bethany making a funny face again. She's pretty amazing on a guitar and I don't think she's taken lessons except informally from her mom. I took a semester-long class and she plays WAY better than I do. In fact, I don't really play at all.

This is the rock lesson for the boys at church. Patrick is painting "PRAY" on the rocks. Doesn't he look so intent? It was a fun project. Since they're supposed to go on your pillow, later we made one for Pattie as a joke that says, "WATCH YOUR HEAD!"

This is Cosette's first birthday. Her mom gave her chocolate cake. I thought she didn't look as delighted by the whole thing as I imagine I would be. However, she does look cute . . . and messy.

This is Cosette's cousin beating up on Patrick. I know he looks like the victim in these pictures, but I really think Patrick starts the roughhousing a lot of the time.
This is Independence Day at Mickie and Keith's. They made delicious chicken, which you can see on the grill. I'm hungry just remembering it. For Independence Day, by the way, Patrick and I slept in and then got up and filled water balloons and water guns and went in hunt of friends we could get. We got our friends Debbie and Jeff with the water guns a little, though they stayed hidded in their house when they saw the water guns which we'd left for them to defend themselves. The water balloons we saved all day until we arrived at Mickie and Keith's and then we snuck around back while Keith was grilling and attacked him. He was a great sport about it . . . which was probably easier to do when we didn't get him very wet. (I don't think I got him at all.)

Here is proof that Patrick often starts it. We filled up the water guns again before going over to Mickie and Keith's. And he shot people pretty liberally as I recall.

This is Bethany retaliating. She looks so nonchalant about it that the picture looks a little creepy but it is a water gun, as evidenced by the bright yellow and purple on the gun and by Patrick smiling while he tries to duck away.

And this is me and Pattie settling in to watch the fireworks. We ended up on chairs but the grass felt nice for awhile. It was a fantastic fourth of July!

Clearly, things are going well here. We're having a great time. In the future, we're looking forward to the next family dinner, Aimee's shower, our family reunion, the baby classes, and then Aimee's wedding/wedding festivities, as well as Patrick finishing summer term and (in his ideal world) the baby being born after his finals and before the next/final semester starts. But we'll see what happens.