Cousins!!

We were so excited to have a visit from my brother, Ethan, and his family at the end of June. They have lived at Ft. Drum, New York, for the last seven years. They are moving to Colorado Springs where Ethan will be stationed at Ft. Carson, and stopped in Newman for a few days on their way through.

Aunt Allison was very quick to snatch up Constance. Aileen was also very taken with her new cousin.

We had brunch their first morning here and the kids played outside.

Eleanor and Emily ate their breakfast in the butterfly playhouse.

Mackenzie creating driveway art with the 3D sidewalk chalk. It really worked!

Eleanor and Mikey

Later in the aftenoon, we went to GG's house.

Fry time. Anything and everything you can think of to fry went into a big turkey fryer and we made it. Mushrooms, poppers, cheese sticks, onion rings, egg rolls...

and Aunt Becky and Aunt Connie made donuts! YUM!

Michael and Aunt Connie

Ethan with his homemade wine. He brought apple and strawberry for us to try.

Kya thoroughly enjoyed her donut.

After dark, we had sparklers for the kids and a bonfire.

Aileen

Katie and Constance

Uncle Sean helps Ellie light her sparkler

Double Trouble

I took this picture of Katrina with the fireworks setting on my camera. I thought it turned out really cool.

Eleanor dancing with her sparkler:

We had such a great time. Not only were Ethan and Allison home, but my cousin, Tammy, who lives in Texas was here also, along with most of my other Allen cousins. Our family has always been close. I love that no matter how far apart we are or how long it is between visits, we seem to pick up right where we left off, and it is precious to me to see that happening in my children's generation as well. Even though they don't see their cousins nearly as much as I saw mine growing up, there is such a special bond between them. When they do get to be together, they make the most of it.

Turkey Run

The second week of July we took our annual trip to Turkey Run with family and Wesley Chapel church friends. As always, it was a wonderful time, with beautiful scenery, good food and wonderful fellowship. This year in particular, the weather could not have been any better. Mild temps, low humidity and only a little rain the very last morning.

A happy camper

The kids did all kinds of fun activities: trails, canoeing, swimming, and go carts. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of any of those adventures since Constance and I stayed at the campsite. I don't think she's quite up for trails or go carts yet!

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. It was very relaxing to have nothing in the world to do except play with a baby and read a book when she napped.

The kids entertained us with a talent show. This has become a tradition. Sometimes there's actually talent involved.

Summer doesn't get much better than this.

Katie's Got Talent

Last night Katie perfomed in the Edgar County Fair Talent Show. In my totally unbiased opinion, she played brilliantly!

Here she is before the show, looking much too beautiful for any fourteen year old to look.

Waiting for the judge's results

With her second place trophy.



Congratulations Katie! You made us so proud!

Here is her perfomance. For some reason, I couldn't get the video I took to upload directly to my blog, so for now you'll need to click the link to watch it. Be warned: The video is very shaky. I was a nervous wreck and my hands were trembling. Hope you don't get motion sickness watching it.

Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique, 1st movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0rJ1Y3cUQg

deja vu?

Mackenzie Anne Krabel

May 1998

age 3 months

Constance Joy Krabel

June 2009

age 3 months

fire pit

For Mother's Day, Dan baught "me" some chairs, a small table, and a fire pit. We have enjoyed some of these cool evenings outside cooking hot dogs and making s'mores.

Mackenzie likes her marshmallows well done!

Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, as with every other one I can remember, we celebrated with friends and family at Wesley Chapel. It is a special tradition in our family, and we look forward to it every year.

This year was a little different in that we didn't get to decorate the graves because of the torrential rain. I was disappointed, and I know the kids were, too. The Legion members still stood out in the rain and gave the 21 gun salute and played taps despite the weather, which says a lot about the kind of men they are and how they feel about their military service.

Mackenzie sang "The Star Spangled Banner."

Elijah recited "The American's Creed"

"I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people and for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many soveriegn States; a perfect union, one and inseperable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, support its Constitution, obey its laws, respect its flag and defend it against all enemies. "

by William Tyler Page, 1917


Katie played "America the Beautiful."



Uncle Steve reading the roll call.




"Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

-Ronald Reagan

I'm two months old...

....................and I can SMILE!