Overdue

I knew this would happen once August began.  It has been over a month since I have updated anything and there is so much more to update.  But I will just start with the post that I began over 3 weeks ago and try to get up to speed.  My last post ended with a tour of the new South End Zone, right before heading to Iowa.  Gracie did her first Mizzou Softball camp and we made it out on the boat for an afternoon!  Nick and I hadn't done that for over two years!  The kids had been out with my parents, but not us.

Gracie and her friend Sadie at the softball camp. 

It was for grades 7-12, but I think she held her own.

Gracie doing some live hitting.  I'm pretty sure the pitchers were in high school.

Here's another one.

This is after a full day of softball camp

On the boat!!!!

The first weekend in August we were finally able to get down to the lake to spend a day there.  It was great!  We stayed and went out for dinner with my parents and it was much needed.

Enjoying the ride

Grandma Kate and Gracie

Owen taking over

Nick found some friends.

My mom kept telling him to stop feeding the ducks so they would stay away from the boat.

Aww... I needed a new picture

Nick and the kids

Spending time with my dad

Grandma and grandkids

Here's Gracie when we went out to eat.

I believe we are entering teen years a little early here.

And Owen.  Enough said.

IOWA

The weekend of August 9 we made a trip to Iowa for a wedding and to see some of Nick's side of the family.  Gracie and I had a salon day and she loved having someone else do her hair.  We saw Emily, who used to do my hair when we lived in Iowa.  It was great!

I love Gracie's hair, even if she doesn't right now.

Here we are!

And here is Nick's selfie with Owen

(they didn't go to the salon)

The Wedding!

My cousin, Nick was married to his now wife, Amber.  It was good to see all of them.  However, I didn't know many of the people there.  Our side of the family is pretty small.

I must say, we clean up well.

Gracie and Nick

Another pic of Gracie and Nick

Gracie and Grandpa Tom

Love this one of the girls.

Family pic #2

Nick and the kids again

Nick's jacket.  It's a little big still.

It didn't take long after we left the wedding for Gracie to pull up her hair and take off her shoes.

I'm not sure who is in the hammock.  It might be kids?  It might be Nick???

We stayed at Annie's all weekend and had fun with everyone.  We also made a trip over to Huxley on Saturday afternoon to see Loewes.  It was fun to see them after it had been a couple years.  We had brunch and caught up for a few hours before they had their own wedding to go to.  I miss them a lot, but it was like picking back up where we left off.  

Fun at Annie and Chad's

Chad took the boys fishing for a little bit.

Huge fish.

Owen and River

The Britton side

We stopped on Friday and again on Sunday to see Nick's grandparents.  On Sunday, the whole family joined us for lunch.  We were going to do a picnic, but the weather did not cooperate until later in the afternoon.  We met at Pizza Ranch and finally around 2pm we were able to take the bunch to a park nearby.

All of the grandchildren and great grand children

Just the "greats" (except Julie, although she is GREAT!)

It was so good to see Charlotte and Clifford and I think they were very appreciate of all of our efforts to get together.

Owen with Grandpa Britton

More fun at the Wearmouths

River Bouncing

The kids did sparklers

More sparklers

My friend.

I miss her.

Traci had to document our short run we did together.  She has had a stress fracture, but decided against better judgment to run 4 miles with me.  It was a very conversational pace, which was great for catching up.  Maybe the next one will be longer.  I am not in as good of shape as I used to be, nor is she, so it worked out well.  Just very thankful that we got a run in together.

So, that was the first couple weeks in August.  Then it was full speed ahead when we returned.  We hit the ground sprinting on Monday morning after returning.  Work has been nonstop since then and we have had a few other things going on, as well.  Birthdays, school, football, dance, softball, etc.  I will update more soon...hopefully.  Like I said, I started this over three weeks ago and am just getting a chance to add a narrative.