Cute Pic Post -- July 2014

July was so different than June! We had the boys' bedroom remodeled and then our bathroom remodeling started as well. It's so disrupting to have someone in your house all day long! Not just the noise and the dust, but having someone else (a stranger) in the house makes it feel so full. When the bathroom was down to the studs, there was nothing but one layer of sheetrock between him and the other bathroom (read: toilet usage, showering, etc). Thankfully, God gave us some cooler temps which was amazing because there wasn't a ceiling at times and the windows were open when stuff was coming out of the bathroom. The boys' bedroom came out fabulously. Just like my dreams! I'd only been thinking about making it just like this for YEARS. We had a Friday FieldTrip, the 4th of July, Austin had his second dance camp, Seth's birthday, a Spofford Family Day in West, and then Austin had a gymnastics camp. Much more stressful and crazy-making than June, but good nonetheless.

Here's our July:

boys' bedroom remodeling = messy front room

Graham watching Austin dance

Graham is a serious blankie man. LOVES it.

We inherited some of Gran's piano music and some of it was stuff Seth had played growing up. He was able to sit right down and play and it was so fun. Graham kept deciding it was supposed to be a duet!

lol

His first sleep in his big bed. lol!

when boys dress themselves...

someone's excited about his new lunchbox!

still smiling!

"Look, Momma, No hands!"

Georgia is as worn out and frazzled as ever by all the remodeling. She and I have that in common.

50% Wisconsin in this house

love the mess on his face!

tattoos!

his first "selfie"

We hosted the PTA Family Pool Potluck Party!

Date Night!

Austin saved his own money for this ride!

We bought our school supplies for the backpack drive at church.

Spofford Family Reunion in West -- July 2014

On Saturday, July 19th, we were able to spend a fun-filled day in West at Aunt Carrie's house. We've recently changed it from being a Birthday event to simply a Family Reunion of sorts, and it was fabulous this year! She has this amazing pool in the backyard and it's a perfect setting for the kids to swim all day long. And since it's a rather small gathering (only 16 people total), we're able to catch up in ways you can't otherwise. Plus, now that Gran's gone, we will probably see those family members less so having this event every summer will become more important. Seth and I stopped for pastries for the group to share (kolaches, etc) and then later everyone had a late lunch provided by Carrie. In late afternoon, we pack up and head back home. We aim for about 4pm so that the dogs aren't left for longer than 12 hours, but we were busy doing jewelry stuff all day and ended up leaving much later than we had planned! Plus, it's hard to leave because it's so much for there!

It was pretty cloudy and actually a little cool to do a lot of swimming. Some of us just sat by the pool without the burning desire to get in because the temperature was so mild. It was pleasant enough to just sit and enjoy the weather! In July! Most of the day, the sun was behind the clouds and Seth was the only adult in the pool. Because of the cloudiness, I opted to leave their rash guards off (trying to undo some of the farmer's tan) and Graham ended up with a serious tummy rash. Guess that's why they call then rash guards!

Plus, the overcast-ness made for some good lighting for photos!

please notice the Ariels on these borrowed goggles...

He promptly tossed them all in the pool!

lone adult

lol. Love that face!

and this one

Austin LOVES jumping off the diving board!

lol

Graham was not a fan of riding around in this.

part of why he had some major rash burn on his belly...

My three favorite men in the whole world!

Popsicle break!

How most of the women were all day--hunched over the tables.

Obligatory Cousins-Sitting-On-The-Couch picture from 2014:

And for fun, a little collage of the TX Spofford Cousins: