July 18, 2009
In 6 and a half weeks it will be September. There's a reason for me mentioning this (I start my blog with the weather anyways), this has been an exceptionally rotten season! Since April to the present, we have had more than our share of rain. Summer is either delayed or, it just ain't gonna make it this year. However, I did get to enjoy some time with my family in June, and that is my silver lining around these dark clouds. Melony, Hailey and Caleb were here for two weeks (June 5-21) and Mom (Nana) flew up from Florida June 15 and stayed for three weeks. Melony and Josh took a lot of pictures and they are all posted on Facebook. Mel decided she's going to build me a patio, after I had the old well seat torn down. Mel asked her friend Lance to teach her the how-to's before she came here. She did an excellent job. Mom and I found a little "bistro" patio set and assembled it ourselves. That wasn't easy. It looks very nice on the patio, but I haven't been able to sit outside with my morning cup(s) of coffee yet!

This is the first time Mel and kids have here in June. They got to watch the fire-flies almost every night. Hailey and Caleb even caught some! My little grandchildren are so sweet, and they also had a lot of fun with their Uncle Josh! We had one sunny day, our first weekend, so we went to go play miniature golf at The Pirates Cove,MDI. And afterwards, we stopped to get sandwiches for our picnic at Sand Beach, ANP. It was a little cold and breezy down there, so I was truly amazed that Hailey wanted (she was determined!) to play in the ocean water! It took her about a half hour of running to and from the waves, till her lips turned blue, when she wrapped herself in a towel and called it quits! Caleb got his feet wet, and that was enough for him! When we walked back to the car and headed home, it didn't take long before they were sound asleep. God they're cute :)

Josh, Mel, kids, and Nana spent a lot of quality time together while I was at work. I always got a warm fuzzy feeling every night when I'd come home from work. The house would be all lit up. Nana and Mel would be playing cribbage, and sometimes (OK, most of the time) Hailey and Caleb would be crashed out on the couch with the TV on. I loved it! :)

Hailey was my early riser. I'm usually on the computer when I hear her coming down the stairs. It was our alone time, very special, and that girl can talk! Once Caleb gets up, I make them breakfast. Everybody's favorite was waffles with blueberries and syrup. Unfortunately, blueberry season hadn't started, so we had frozen blueberries. I would warm the berries up with the syrup and then pour that over the toasted waffles. Yumm! The little moments we shared each and every morning, was so much fun! Nana had had a wonderful time with the kids too. They didn't wear her out as much this year. I'm sure it's because it's been two years since she saw them last. That was in August of 2007. Matt and Aron were here then too. And we had a fantastic family reunion. Matt couldn't make it out this summer. And Aron is in Quatamala this year. I hope we can all get together for another reunion, soon!