Summer Days Continued

Oh yes, summer continues to be so fun!!!!!! I love these more relaxed days.

We have "redone" our family room ~ so great after MANY years with the same furniture.

We're sure enjoying it.

Before.........

After ~ love it!

Another fun part of summer ~

Titled: Friends in new ways ~ grandmas! As you know I had Andrea and Ayden last week and on Friday I took them to Toy R Us. I mean, what every grandma does! As we were checking out, I heard "Dorian!" Who do I see, but my friend Cyble. She has her little grandson! She said "we're back in Toys R US"! Hee hee. Sorry no pictures ~ I would have loved to have a shot of us all!!!!! What fun! New days........

AND.............It is STILL July......if only for the day!!!!!! :)

Lastly ~ readying for vacation.....Yahoo!

Grandkids ~ Privilege of time with them

Last week I had the privilege of having Andrea and Ayden. Ayden's normal sitter was on summer vacation and Brittany (Andrea's sister) was up in PA visiting. Thus.....grandma got to enjoy these two. What fun we had!!!!!! It is always great to have one on one time, so this was a real pleasure to just spend time with them.

swinging in the backyard

looking pretty by grandma's hydrangeas

playing in the sunroom

Andrea building wonderful towers

nothing better than bubbles

Aunt Hannah came over

Steve serenaded us with guitar playing

went to Burke Lake to swing, slide, and feed the ducks

We even got to go see our cousins! (thanks Courtney for letting us join you!)

these two boys are and will be quite the buddies :)

Bailey was so glad that someone was younger than her!

tough saying goodbye......til next time!

grandma loves these "helpers"

Papa even got to say hi! Phill would drop the kids off in the morning and then give Papa a ride to his bus stop!

Ayden's toes (by Andrea)

sweet boy

Andrea and I enjoyed the "quiet time" while Ayden napped ~ here with Cassie

piano playing

I often found her here :)

Even in the back of the pick up....we played ball and talked ~ fun girl time

Andrea ~ she said, "Grandma can you do this? I don't think you can."

"oh yeah, I said.....look and see" Andrea laughed sooooo hard!!!!!

It was a special week ~ full of fun.........and ....Grandma was a bit tired out by the end of the week.

Special memories

Celebrating Alden

Alden's birthday celebration was GREAT fun. The family gathered at Foster's Grille last night, which is becoming a regular for our gatherings. :)

the birthday boy ~ with his favorite, yellow cake and chocolate icing

the whole gang (minus Courtney's three oldest kids...who were at VBS)

enjoying getting caught up with each other

Phill and Steve

Hannah and Sawyer

Alden, Pat, Ayden and Sawyer (funny how most pictures have babies in them!)

Alden appreciating the special notes written to him

and.....a few gifts

We celebrate you Alden. Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Alden

Today IS Alden's birthday......and I'm just making it to wish him a Happy Birthday and a GREAT year ahead.

We love this man ~ husband, father, Papa, brother, nephew, friend, co-worker

Happy Birthday Alden!

Happy 1st Birthday Sawyer! ~ precious grandson

Courtney and Pat's youngest child ~ Sawyer ~ is one year old today!!!!!!! What a precious boy he is. :)

the Cassada family of 6 The girls admiring their new brother Joshua enjoying his brother Proud grandma and papa ~ what a special day that was a year ago......

and what a treasure we have today in this boy ~ Sawyer

We love you Sawyer!!!!!!

1st Birthday ~ sooooooooo special

Family ~ Smiles

Alden and I spent the weekend in North Carolina with his family ~ what a great time we had ~ reconnecting with people. But.......before I share pictures of the weekend, I am watching Andrea and Ayden (Phill and Christy's younger kids) this week. Ayden's regular sitter is on her summer vacation and Brittany is in PA visiting ~ so fun days for Grandma this week!

Andrea and Ayden :)

Phill rocked in this little rocker as a baby......ahhhhhhh.

Now to the weekend ~ Alden's family.....so special to us.

Ken (Alden's brother), Lynne, her parents, Kenneth, Alden (yes...named after our Alden), and

Alden and I...at our family's favorite restaurant....Peadens!!!!

Alden and his brother, Ken

Alden and his nephews, Kenneth and Alden (beside him)

Alden and Ken love to tinker on ..........ANYTHING ....working on our car at his house....yes, Ken has a shop in his backyard. {Every man's dream! Alden's anyway...... } :) Helping Ken clean up the pool area at his house

"little" Alden went out with some friends to a local lake to enjoy their jet ski.....

"big" Alden had to try it out, even if it was just on land :)

Alden and I loved "having" to go pick up Alden and his friends at the lake to bring them home.....ummmm.....pulling the jet ski on a nice, BIG pick up. Can you just see "big" Alden smiling.

Aunt Louise ~ one special lady to us

Alden and his Uncle Jerry

Alden checking out Louise's garden.......

and finding plenty

Enjoying his Aunt Elma

driving by his parent's house

their driveway (our kids learned to drive on this!)

and lastly visiting with his Aunt Shelby (his mom's sister) and his cousins

"magnet" Alden with children :)

saying goodbye.......one happy man (full of smiles)

A wonderful weekend ~ with family.