July Overview

I just can not keep up with routine posts, so these monthly overviews will have to do for now.

We spent what seems like half of July in Illinois. 

Canon cheesing in his new July 4th shirt I made. 

This is what my kitchen looked like most of July due to being gone so much. This was one afternoon after going grocery shopping and cleaning out the pantry and fridge and feeding my children in the middle of it.

My sister and niece came into town for July 4th. We went to a festival where we live.
This is Canon feeding the animals.

Trying to put Harper on the pony.

And it didn't work...

Waiting for the fireworks.

This little girl loves shoes and wanted to wear a hat like mommy was that day.

Popcorn and movie night while Jess was working late. These two love them some popcorn!

Dress up again. She got into Canon's dress up clothes. She has a cowboy hat on with a ninja turtle shell on her back.

Canon rocking, singing, and praying with Harper before her nap one afternoon. One of the sweetest moments.

These pictures start the time in Illinois. My cousin from Seattle was in with three of her children, so we headed to IL to visit with them. Jess was able to come for a few days over the weekend.

This is Harper holding a worm. Gross. She has no fear people!

Visiting with my grandmother. We did not know this at the time, but this was just a few days before she passed.

Dirty face from playing outside and having a cookout.

Took the older kids to the park and for snow cones while the babies slept.

A day at the water park in town. Canon absolutely loved spending time with his cousins.

Getting ready to head to bed. There were lots of Berenstain Bear books read this week.

The two babies.

Major dirt pile on the farm. I remember playing on this dirt pile as a child and now my kids play on it.

Seahawks jersey from our cousins! Thank you!!

We had such a great time with our cousins. I really enjoyed visiting with my cousin Sonya. She is very wise and I learned a lot from her and was encouraged at the same time.

I ended up staying in Illinois a day later than I anticipated because my grandmother took a turn for the worse while we were all there visiting. After coming home she died a few days later. So of course I packed everyone back up and we headed to Illinois again.
This is Harper being my not to helpful "helper". :)

My granddad.

The night before my grandmother's visitation we had dinner with my granddad where he lives. After eating dinner we went into his apartment and visited with him and family. My aunt and one of my cousins started going through her bible and reading all of her notes. How awesome were her notes to the sides of her bible. Even though losing your grandmother is tough, she left an amazing legacy behind. Her funeral was so God honoring. She truly was an example of Christ's love to everyone she met. I am extremely blessed to have grown up with her around my life. She will be greatly missed.

Most of the cousins.

The grandchildren were pallbearers.

Canon at the graveside service.

Ya'll we were so tired from being gone 11 out of 14 days that Jess snapped this picture of me sleeping and Harper cuddling with me. She is attached to her mommy. She wants to be with me, even if it means laying down with me once she is up. So sweet this little girl of mine.

This girl cracks me up. She is a dress up machine.

You can see all the clothes in the background. Once getting back from Illinois for the second time, I had three days to do laundry and pack up again, but for vacation this time!

Other happenings in July -
Canon seriously made huge improvements with his swimming.
Jess ran the Glow Run 5K.
Jess and I were able to squeeze in a day date after church before heading to Illinois.

And here is another sweet picture of Harper after a bath. What is it with a baby wrapped up in a towel?