happy birthday julia

It was one of those super hot sweaty days.   Most of the time our lack of central air isn't a big deal, but weeks like this can get long.  

But we persevered.  We scrapped the idea of grilling hamburgers and made sloppy joes instead and bought a cake instead of baking, and we managed.

I even found the fans I'd stored last fall, all neatly tucked safely in the closet.  I was getting ready to go to Target and buy fans, but there they were!

We needed them.

It was a great night.

Gifts!

Cake!

I see the Bieber has returned.

And at the end of a wild hot party, the wild hot sleepover began.

But now it is quiet and the house is cooling off.

Julia, you have grown up to be a beautiful, thoughtful, conscientious woman, hardworking and funny, with a loving heart, and this whole family is lucky you're ours.

Here's to the future, Sweetheart

Happy, happy birthday!  With love for always, Mom and Dad and Everybody

 

one more from fourth of july

Two hundred fifty years is worthy of a song.

Nice job, buddy.

Love, Grandma
 

happy birthday dalton

I love this picture of you two.

And this one of everybody.
 

This is the amazing playroom built for Christmas.  Man, you're talented.  This is so great.

I've heard they think of many hazardous things to do in this room.

Why??

Sounds about right though.

And this picture of little baby Dalton, where you look so much like your kids.  I love this.

Thank you so much for the kindness and patience you've been extending to this whole family for years now.   You are loved very much.

Happy Birthday, Love, Val and Jay and Everybody

wildfire smoke

It looks like some kind of vintage filter is on these photos, but no.

That's wildfire smoke out of Boundary Waters.

Love, Val
 

other people's pictures

Heidi, Dannell, and Alicia all sent pictures they had taken, great cousin pictures.

All the cousins doing cousin things.

These two are brothers in law, not cousins, but same general idea

Ahhhh.     And now we're back home in the city and people are still shooting off a few fireworks in the distance, and there's bathwater in the tub and this beautiful weekend is over.

It was loud and hot and full of people and personalities and energy, but also phenomenal generosity.  There is sharing of space and time and food and so much grace.  Thank you to every single one of you.  Weekends like this, summer after summer, are continually made possible only by patience and kindness.

You are each and all so incredibly loved, MOM

 

sunny fifth of july

After the storms it was bright and perfect, not as humid, just lovely.

John patiently pulled them on tubes on and on and on.

Love, Grandma