July 31

Getting Julia’s stuff gathered up to move her into her apartment.

July 30

Not many pictures these days because I am busy watching the Olympics! Ha! Gus got a haircut. 

Julia and Kat are busy going to ALL the doctors before they go to school. Julia had an opthamology follow-up, a dentist appt, and then a dermatologist appt yesterday. Her opthamologist said the next step for her is to use eye drops multiple times a day (eye gel at bedtime) to see if that stabilizes the droop. It’s the next step before surgery is an option.

July 29

Lucy has played chess a lot this weekend.

Lucy had a molar that was super wiggly. Clay was determined to get it out. Two baby teeth left! 

July 28

Crepes for lunch. Yum! This is what Elliott chooses any time I ask for meal suggestions.

Homemade sourdough bagels for breakfast. They are’t pretty, but they should be tasty.

July 27

Julia and I had to jump the Toyota to get it started. Neither of us had ever done that without someone helping us. Thanks to YouTube, we managed just fine!

I don’t consider myself to be an anxious room, but this room gives me anxiety!!! So. Much. Crap. 

July 26

Look who is home!!! Unfortunately, Clay had to fly out not long after I picked Julia up from the airport. He will be back late tonight. Thankfully it’s just a quick trip.

Mamaw and Bapaw came over for dinner and watched some videos (and some pictures that Julia put on the TV). She had a great summer. 

She’s almost there!

July 25

After finally going to the grocery store, Lucy and I spent about three hours in the kitchen making deviled eggs, sourdough discard rolls, vegetable beef soup, and a banana caramel pie. 

July 24

Happy Birthday Bapaw!

Clay took Kat and Elliott to King’s Island. 

Lucy and I went to the movies to see “Twisters” which was as good as the original. 

Last night church hosted a roller skating party, so we took Caroline with us.

July 23

Julia spent the day at Universal with a group of friends. They are wrapping up their summer adventure. She comes home Thursday!

July 22

Clay replaced the exterior lights yesterday. Much better! The old pole light was so corroded that it stopped working. 

Have I mentioned that I love my Blackstone? 

July 21

Clay and Elliott went golfing with Bapaw and Bob last night. 

July 20

I worked on the laundry room yesterday.

We celebrated Bapaw’s 70th birthday last night at Bob and Kelsey’s new house.

July 19

I took Kat, Elliott, and Lucy to the cat cafe yesterday.

We had a picnic lunch at a park, then headed to a cemetery to feed the ducks (well… geese mostly). Elliott is an animal whisperer. 

Then we dropped Kat off at work and went to the grocery store.

The neighbors came over to hang out. 

July 18

Back to the real world…

Elliott asked me to cut 1 1/2 inches off his hair


This old dog missed his boy

July 17

My babies are back! Let the Grandparent detox begin.

Gus missed his kids!!! For the last four nights that the kids were gone, he was waking up in the middle of the night howling and panting. On Monday night I slept on the couch and let him sleep in the family room with me. He woke me up a couple of times by nudging me with his nose (I think just checking to see that I was still there) and then he would go back to sleep. I am happy to report that now that Elliott is home (Gus sleeps in Elliott’s room), Gus made it through the night just fine. Separation anxiety? Whatever it was, I hope to never experience again! He’s getting more and more quirky in his old age.

Elliott and Clay went golfing last night.

July 16

Grandpa and LuLu took the kids to St Louis for Top Golf, a candy store, and a diner.

July 15

I asked Julia to send me a picture of her face.

She sent me these too.

When the grocery store has cereal on sale for $1.99 a box if you buy 5 or more, you stock up! Well, that is what I did, anyway.

What started out as a plan to replace the broken kitchen fan has turned into a crusade to replace all the lights so they all match.

Grandpa and Elliott went golfing with Uncle Stump

Nonna and Lucy went to the Muni.

Kat went to a slumber party after work, so Clay and I had the house to ourselves all day.