Summer Family Time

 Following the Birky reunion and our family trip, we came home to spending time with more family. Carissa & Tim's family were here; so there was plenty of playtime in the pool, lawn games, toddler interactions, rocket launching, birthday celebrating, a movie night WHILE in the pool, 

Some of the pool time included: water volleyball, watermelon ball, and a very impressive synchronized routine provided by Mia, Gia, Ava, and Kade. 

Ava turned 13!!

Isaac laid there for quuuuite awhile as Brent used him as a pillow.

Playing Kubb; a lawn game I had never seen before the Birky reunion. (I still don't really know how to play, but it seems like a fan favorite.)

 We were all wearing floral attire...so it only seemed fitting we take a picture :)

The 2 & 3 year old cousins.

One night Dad sent off a rocket. Watching it launch is fun...but the search to find it is also pretty exciting. Christian, Jace, and Brent went on four-wheelers...while Mom drove the mule with a whole LOAD of us.

Carissa was also riding up front...so there was 8 of us poking along. But WE found it!! 

Carissa got off to claim the rocket (very happy about it!).

It was a perfect evening for it, very little wind, great temperature, and a beautiful sunset.

Exploration Place with Family

We were going to go to the zoo all together, but the weather was NOT ideal for that..super hot and humid (the type you start sweating just walking from your car to the entrance). So we went to the Exploration Place instead.

Dad, Brent and Ben were working, Maddox was at camp, and Tim flew in at lunch..but the rest of us went.

We went to a pizza place just a couple minutes away. It was fast, tasty, and accommodated all of us real nice.

Sweigart Family Fun:: Week Two

Frog-more-stew, rocket launching, arboretum visit, suppers, and plenty of time in the pool filled up the second week the Gredler family (minus Tim after Monday afternoon).

[ Ready for a rocket launch...and the chase that follows ]

 At the arboretum one morning to take a lap around the path and visit the fish/turtles in the pond. The library has a book walk there in the summer, and features a different book throughout the path. It made the walk more entertaining for the kids for sure (Grandma read it to them).

An unplanned coordinating outfit moment :) 

Navy - bright orange - white

The Christophels came for supper one evening as well!

[ Grandpa reading the grandkids a book ]

[ Love from aunts and uncles ]

[ A final pool party ]

Its fun to spend time all together.. many memories to be held! 

Until next time.

Grandpa Sweigart

My Grandpa Sweigart passed away July 1. He had been placed on hospice about a month ago, with a new diagnosis of cancer that had spread throughout. The funeral was held in Missouri, where they live, and we all went.

On Friday night, we drove up to Kansas City, ate at Chic-fil-a and then stayed at the hotel.

 In the morning, the immediate family had a very good breakfast all together at Grandma's house, prior to the funeral. 

Great Uncle Randy - Isaac                                     Isaac - Great Grandma

Sweigart family: Tanganyika

July 6: All 19 of us went to Tanganyika...it just so happened to be a very very warm day, so we didn't have to really share the zoo with too many other people! But we had a good time, and everyone got to  feed/touch some animals!!

Ben thinks he can communicate with the monkeys...

its entertaining for the children to laugh at, and maybe a little confusing for strangers who don't know him.

The lorikeets were friendly!

 Hahaha...the one of Brent makes me laugh! It is a little unnerving when they land on you..particularly right by your head.

Kade, Jace, and Christian getting a camel ride.

Quite the lunch set up we had!

After lunch, we stopped by the lemurs (which you can no longer take pictures of), and then headed back home before our professional family pictures in the evening!