Welcome back to our blog!  We have been posting over on the adoption blog for Charlie, Ashley, and Katelyn since April and now we are back on the family blog.  It is good to be back!

A lot has transpired since we last updated you. We went through quite a few birthdays, starting with Riley in May.

Although Riley hates a lot of attention, she has been doing a better over the last couple of years.  And yet, at times, that shyness comes back through!

We are pretty good at coaxing her through it and she comes out with flying colors!

It has been nice to have the older boys home from college this summer.  Well … MOST of the time.

We slipped a quick Mother’s Day in there…

.. and then continued on with Leah’s birthday the beginning of June.

She didn’t have as many issues blowing out the candles on her cake that Riley did.

We then kept moving forward towards the middle of June and had Charlie’s first birthday in the US!

He had airplane cup cakes instead of a cake.

But he still had the opportunity to blow out a candle!

And … just in case he forgets who he is …

Between all the birthdays, we had a visit from Tony McQuinn and his daughter Christina.  Christina grew up with Ali, Riley & Jessie and it was nice to get to see an old friend.  Tony brought a bunch of older pictures of the kids, many we had never seen before, and the girls had a great time going through them.

And if you are going to have company, you need to go the pool, right?  And, even if you are company, you have to pull your weight.  So, Tony had to take his turn and watching Charlie swim.

We did not, however, require the same of Christina.

And, if you are going to swim, you need a little ice cream afterwards.  Luke seems to have a continual problem with keeping food off his face, ESPECIALLY ice cream!

Kelly does not.

As Tony and Christina were getting ready to head out, the girls were in high spirits after getting to spend a couple of days together.

But picture taking can become so exhausting!

At the end of June we had the opportunity to go camping in Arkansas and celebrate my parents 50th anniversary!  What a great example to give your children and grandchildren of the blessing of being faithful for some many years to one person.

Mom and Dad opened some cards at dinner…

… and then Nicole had purchased some awesome cup cakes for us to share.

The entire family then took a quick picture.  Sorry about Brittany and Nicole.  They got a little lost.  These things happen when you have to hand the camera over to someone else.

The next day we all went to Magic Springs for a day of amusement rides and water parks!

Bumper cars were high on the list of rides to ride.  Caleb wasted no time jumping into the drivers seat.

Charlie took his turn for the first time, but was content to let Jacob take the wheel.

While Ali WILL be turning 16 this year, she will NOT be driving yet.  This was as close as she will get for awhile.

Brittany, also, will turn 16 this year and she may see herself behind the wheel of a car.

Riley, ever trusting of her big brothers, let Nick be in control.

SOME people took this a little seriously.

As did others.

After that, it was time for the Magic Springs version of Tea Cups.  I was a little worried my car was going to get a little sick, but my girls were troopers, especially Ashley.  The crazier the ride the more willing she was to go on it!

The little kids turned their car with a vengeance!

A little more of a “mundane” ride for Charlie was in order with the airplane ride.

But Mia and Luke took a turn also.

While this girl is very pretty, she is a little crazy also!

All of these girls are beautiful, though, and we have been very blessed.

We eased into the water park by starting with a water ride.

The water park side was not conducive to taking pictures, but there is video below.

After a long day at Magic Springs, we had the opportunity to see some of our closest friends in the world, friends we haven’t had a chance to see in several years.  Darren and Paulette came out with their family and spent a couple of hours with us at Sonic.

They brought their kids with them…

And their kids, along with our kids, made up a pretty good looking group!

Although a somewhat quick trip, it was great to spend a few days camping, playing, and celebrating with my parents.  Here is a video that gives you a little more of a feel for our weekend.

https://youtu.be/mP-uBpuGlkA

The summer is just coming into full swing!  We should have lots more to post soon!

Cameron