Summer Photo Dump series... #4

The Puppy

So, we got this really cute little Boston Terrier puppy named Belinda.  She is joining our other two Bostons and three cats.  And that's all I have to say about that.

Summer Photo Dump series... #3

Ashland Stir-Up Days

Every July, our town has a festival called "Stir-Up Days".  There are lots of activities surrounding the event throughout the weekend.  There are numerous "feeds" for lunch, breakfast and dinner; a street dance for grown-ups, a pool party for teens, a car show, an art show, carnival games, eating contests etc., etc.... our favorite event is the Stir-Up Days parade.

Thomas waiting downtown for the parade to appear.

Right after the opening color guards come the fire trucks!

Sarah was one of the many little girls performing their cheer/dance camp routine at the parade along with the

 Ashland-Greenwood High School Spirit Squad.

Candace and Sarah after their parade performance.

Here come the antique tractors!

Nicely groomed alpacas... why the heck not?

Horses

Crop sprayer... it's a rural area.

Heavy construction equipment...

 Anna's friend's dad owns this business.  :)

No parade is complete without Shriners in antique cars...

or Shriners in tiny cars...

 or Shriners in go-karts...

 or Shriners on tandem bicycles.

For a nice quiet activity, we enjoyed the art show at Saint Stephen's... Nebraska's oldest church building.  Alas, it no longer has a congregation and is maintained by the Historical Society.

The kids created sidewalk art at St. Stephen's.

 Candace creating her masterpiece.

 Technically not a part of Stir-Up Days, but Thomas did take swimming lessons all week.  He's a natural.

Summer Photo Dump series... #2

The fourth of July with cousin Meredith

We brought niece Meredith home with us from Indianapolis to stay for a few days over Independence Day week.  We had fun riding the boat, swimming and of course, blowing things up.

 Sarah IS America's Next Top Model.

 Candace

Anna and Meredith

Meredith and Thomas

A very patriotic family

Anna and Meredith after retrieving their parachute guys.

 Thomas caught his parachute guy in this bucket... nice catch!

"Expecto patronum!"... note sparks flying from the wand.

 Sparkler fun

 Trash can fireworks staging area.

 Appreciative spectators

 Sarah

Anna in perfect wand dueling form.

Summer Photo Dump series... #1

The Indianapolis Visit

In late June, we visited friends and family in Indianapolis.  Here are pictures from the trip, in no particular order.

Hanging with cousin Valerie

 Riding the antique carousel at the 

Indianapolis Children's Museum

 Enjoying some dinosaur time with cousin Becky at ICS.

 Twins playing in the Egypt exhibit at ICS.

 Sarah serving Mommy at the pretend Egyptian cafe.

 Becky, Grandma Spears and Daddy giving Thomas 

some pointers on the waterworks at ICS.

 Candace getting some pointers on 

guitar playing from Uncle Matt.

 Aunt Laura, Percy and Grandma Miles playing Monopoly Junior with the littles.