July

July was also a very busy month for our family! We spent July Fourth in Austin were enjoyed the triumphal end to Michelle's almost 3 year quilt project. Mother A, Robert A, Michelle, Joseph and Becky all helped with the quilting. It was done in 2 days! We're so grateful for everyone's help. Now we're just deciding where to hang it in our house! We were glad to celebrate Emily's birthday together and for all of the memories we're making each time we get together.

We realized this month that growing a garden is hard, with roof run off from our torrential downpours it rotted out the part of our garden that the heat didn't kill and the squirrels didn't eat. Bummer. We are hoping for more success in our fall garden.

Michelle, as the ward head music guru, started up our ward choir this month! It has limited attendance but everyone does well. She also put together a couple special musical numbers and has been arranging people to perform. It is very fulfilling work and she enjoys every nerve wrecking moment of it all. (She is also so grateful to have a husband who is willing to sing every time she asks-- such a GOOD man!).

Michelle started working on her Family History through familysearch.org.  She enjoys the searching, but mostly enjoys learning all the stories about who her family was and what they did. She sneaks away on some nights to work at the family history center.

Michelle continues taking Daniel to the pool often (when it's not raining). He had major success going under water all by himself! Way to go Dan the Man! Daniel will talk your ear off if you let him, always asking for his favorites saying... "last time song" or "last time chocolate milk" or "last time game" over and over again. Believe it or not, he (literally to this day) will fall asleep eating. It is the funniest thing ever.

Jason turned 6 months old! We've started him on solids which he took to so easily it was like he had been waiting these 6 months on Earth just to get a bite of sweet potatoes! The boy loves his sweet potatoes.  He loves to laugh, he absolutely adores his big brother, he is rolling around and trying to sit up. Big month I know!

Joseph worked hard this month to rid himself of his knee brace and is walking and sleeping a lot more comfortably now.  He cant wait to start playing softball again with his work team.  Missing out on this season has been one of the worst parts about this whole ordeal.

Joseph has been attending a lot of meetings with the start up of our new stake presidency, some close to home, but most out of town in Bay City (1 hour drive) and even Port Lavaca (2 hours). But we're grateful for the experiences he is having with and for the young men.

We've been fortunate this month to go on several dates together. Some with the boys and some without. We were able to go to the temple together to do sealings with the Lewis', while Lars and Emily watched our kids-- (THANKS AGAIN!) Afterwards, we were glad to help them work on home projects. It got us thinking about doing some remodels ourselves. Well mostly just thinking.

Another date we went on kid free was to go and peruse Hastings, looking at movies and talking about books. Simple but really nice and especially refreshing.

After a hard day and week for sleepless Mommy we took the boys to the beach to eat pizza as the sun went down. Daniel had a fun time chasing waves with Daddy, while Mom and Jason had fun putting our toes in the sand.

While Joseph couldn't play softball this month we had fun together going to watch the games anyway. Daniel loves running up and down bleachers and we loved enjoyed the random nice weather day we had. By the end Daniel was covered in dirt. It made Michelle remember all the baseball games she attending as a little girl playing just like Daniel did that day.

Michelle hosted a baby shower at our house for our family friend (who is moving) while Joseph took the YM to the temple for baptisms. It was really fun having friends over and oo-ing and ahh-ing over baby stuff, as always.

Work for Joseph has been very busy.  It seems like there is much more work to do that there is time to do it.  Joseph's new plant is coming along slowly, but coming along nonetheless.  It should be starting up sometime in September.  He may need to put in more hours as that happens, but it will be a good learning experience.  As a couple, we have been talking a lot recently about future career aspirations and where those may lead us.  The future is exciting, especially when you plan it out ahead of time!  Right now, this is the place for us and we enjoy all of the triumphs and trials that come with it.

Love

Joseph, Michelle, Dan the diver, and Jason the sweet potato king.