Family

This Summer has flown by...but it was not without pictures! My Grammy is moving from her farm, so it was the perfect opportunity to take family pics. We took SO many variations and combinations of families within our family!! I just chose a few to share!

No family is without chaos...especially this one!

Grammy and Pappy and there many grandchildren and great grandchildren were together for a group shot....at last!!

Here is the more immediate family you are all familiar with...My mom, Dad, sister and family!

LIKE I SAID, no family is without chaos! This is Jason's side of the family...we had to use the timer on the camera for the very first time! I think it went quite well!

I THINK WE GOT IT! There are more "good ones" but I like this the best because it includes everyone's sweet-feet!

And, well, this picture just sums it up!

NEW RECORDING ARTISTS......

This week the kids went to a real recording studio where they were able to perform two piano pieces that they had prepared for the occasion. Mrs. Stoltzfus, their piano teacher, implemented a great incentive plan this year that required the kids to earn points through perfecting songs, practicing and "extra credit". If they reached their goal they were given this very special opportunity to be a part of creating a CD with Mrs. Stoltzful and their fellow students!
"The Camp", the production studio(www.camprecording.com), is located in Hershey/Elizabethtown. Mr. Sudor was fabulous as he engaged the students with all kinds of interesting facts about the recording process. If he weren't so good at production, he could easily have been a teacher:)

Only the student and Mrs Stoltzfus were in the piano room when recording. The rest of us followed Mr. Sudor to watch him record their songs!
Everyone did a spectacular job! I seriously mean they all did GREAT! I am so proud!

We even learned quite a bit about sound editing! It was really so cool!
The kids (and adults) ALL learned so much. What a unique experience for these budding musicians! THANKS AGAIN MRS STOLTZFUS!! https://kcspiano.musicteachershelper.com/

LAKE KEUKA - we miss it already!!

I will not even try to add captions to all of the pics I took...and these are only a portion of them! We had SOOOOO much fun at Keuka Lake, NY. My great-Aunt MaryJane, and great-Uncle John brought two of their grand-daughters making our vacation even better than we imagined! Words cannot describe how much fun we had skiing, swimming, tubing, talking, fishing, eating, and being entertained by our talented children...we are so fortunate to have a family that enjoys being active, enjoys being together, and enjoys laughter (a lot of laughter:)

You will notice that MANY of the pictures are of the girls...needless to say Claire was in heaven being with Ashley and Madison. The past week gave her such a dose of girlishness which she LOVES...it isn't easy being the only girl out of her first cousins! The bond is still so great with her distant cousins. They had so much fun sharing a room, doing their hair, teasing the boys....the list goes on and on!

Ayden is a definite dare devil on the tube! When the wake and waves aren't bouncing him, he gets on his knees and bounces it himself! All the kids are such "fish"...they are naturals in the water! The big boys LOVED tubing with Ashley since she is the "expert". Claire, Eli and Maddie enjoyed swimming off the boat! Maddie became pretty brave on the tube as the week went on...good for you, girl!

Our bathing beauties!

Oh yes, even the "old guys" got up on skis! WAY TO GO DAD!!

My mom was feeling adventurous and took a spin on the tube! I think I was more nervous than she was...when do children start worrying about their parents rather than the parents worrying about the child? Funny how that happens without anyone noticing!

I don't know if there is anything Aunt MaryJane disliked on our vacation. It was so fun to see her smiling and laughing at all of our silliness!

One night the adults were treated to a talent show put on by the kids! We really have some talented children!

Many acts were imitations....Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Elvis....oh yeah, and the girls imitated two "cool guys", Ayden and Trent. It was pretty darn funny!

The Hoe Down Throw Down!!

A ventriloquist act...I bet you can't guess who the dummy is!!

Dancing is definitely in their blood...and self choreographed none the less! Watch out "America's got Talent"!

Good buds Ayden and Eli put on a pretty great boys hip hop number! Hip hop isn't quite Trent's thing, but he was an excellent stage crew!!

This was Ashley 90% of the time!! She is an expert tuber!

Our resident fisherman, Trent Douglas!

Our resident goofballs, Ayden and Jason!

I thought this captured Uncle John doing one of his favorite things...just enjoying the Lake!

The girls just having girl-time!

We miss you guys...and we missed you, Jordan(Ashley and Madison's sister)! Maybe next year?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE!

Claire's birthday wish finally came true...she now has her American Girl Doll, Lanie. Lanie loves nature, helping wildlife and the environment. Sound familiar? Yes, they are a match made in heaven. So far Lanie and Claire have been inseparable. She has been waiting and wanting this doll for a long time. I think her patience paid off...and her enthusiasm has really made it worth it to us:)

Rather than having a party we took Claire, a few friends, and my nephews rollerskating! It was SO fun!

Some friends needed more help than others:)

Many just hugged the wall!!

After the first half an hour it was smooth sailing! I think a good time was had by all....and they have the bruises to show for it!

One thing is for sure...Girls definitely know how to have fun!!

Happy Birthday Claire Bear! You are our beautifully GOOFY girl...always making us laugh, always giving us a smile, and forever loving to everyone and everything!!

We are so proud of you for nothing more and nothing less than just being you!!