July

We started off July celebrating the 4th with the parade on Grand Island.  Then Papa Jim came later in the day.  We went on a couple bike rides and watched the fireworks from the post office right up the street.

From July 8th through the 16th the kids and I went to Jenny's house to animal/house sit while they went to the Outer Banks.  The kids and I had a fun time taking care of the animals and doing a lot of fun local things in the forest.

Taking care of their bunnies!!

Jumping on the trampoline!

Bear Town Rocks with Grandma!

Fire Tower and Seneca Point!!

The kids climbed to the very top of the fire tower!!  

Other things we did throughout the week:   A bike ride down Toms Run, went to the Sawmill craft center, and hit up a yard sale where the kids found a few treasures.  Uncle Jeff  took us out on his boat at the Clarion River.  It was the firsts time the kids had ever been on a boat.  I got to water ski for the first time in years!  Everyone had a fun time! Took the kids to the Clarion Mall to see the new Minion Movie.  It was fun filled week!!!

Next we went camping in Papa Jim's back yard.  (June 20-22).  

We went on a really nice hike just down the road from his house.  

The next weekend we actually went back to Papa Jim's to camp again!  We were helping him cut up some wood, and Carly and Cody were in Mercer with Ed and Anne because Jason and Heather were on an Anniversary trip in New England.  

June

The Month of June started off very bad for us.  We found out that Raymour was in end stage kidney failure.  He was diagnosed May 31st.  He spent one night in the hospital just because his numbers were so bad they wanted to give him support with IV fluids.  We didn't want him to spend his last days in a hospital so we brought him home with a K/D diet and lots of fluids to give SQ.  We didn't know if he would even make it a week.  He gave us 3 1/2 more weeks and we were very grateful for that! We got him March 7th, 2016 and he passed on June 27th, 2017.  Much too short of a time to have him in our lives but thankful for what we did get!!  

Sea Lion 5k in Niagara Falls.  (June 3rd)

Grace's Kindergarten Orientation!! (June 6th)

Gracie being adorable at a trip to the Zoo with Jeff and I!

Jeff did a Superhero 5K at Delaware Park.  (June 9th)

We finally went to Zoar Valley for a hike.  It was not a disappointment!!  We hiked down into the gorge and then played in the water and had a picnic on the creek.  Gracie found a nice little pool of tadpoles and loved trying to catch them.  Grant and Jeff played in the water alot.  (June 11th) 

We had coyote puppies playing in the field behind our house for 2 days.  As  quickly as they came, they left.  It was amazing to watch them.  It started off with one coming out and there ended up being a total of 9!  We got some great video footage of it too.  (June 19th and 20th)

Last Day of 1st Grade.  June 20th...Finally!!  

On Grant's last day of school Gracie and I had a special tea party since next school year she will be going to Kindergarten.  Earlier in the week we went down to Beaver Island to have a beach day.  Trying to soak up all the time we can!!!

The first summer vacation was a camping trip to Foget-me-Not.  (June 30-July 2nd)  Highlights of the trip:  Gracie loved finding Salamanders in the woods, the water level was perfect for the kids to enjoy the river, and our kayak trip down the river that we ended up in the pooring rain!!

Sometime in May or June Grant took up tennis!  He first played with our rackets and then we got him one on the last day of school.  Here are just a few action shots of him playing with Jeff and Papa Jim.