July Photos

Melanie —  August 5, 2013

Don’t miss the blog post that Peter wrote a few days ago (scroll down) . . . now it’s my turn to post some photos (long overdue), mostly from our time with my parents.  The kids and I are still in vacation mode . . . for me that doesn’t actually feel too much less busy!  It’s during these weeks off that I wonder how I actually manage to run the household AND homeschool during the school year. 🙂  Ha!  Only by God’s grace, of course!  Peter and I have also continued to meet up with various people for ministry planning and discipleship.  I just got back yesterday from visiting a dear friend in Kent.  We love to talk homeschooling, homemaking, parenting, nutrition, etc.  It was a lovely break for me and my family was so sweet to let me go and even stay a little longer than planned too.  And then yesterday evening some good friends came to spend the night with us on their way to Ireland.  They will be back for a few nights at the end of the week.  So all in all, we are staying very well occupied.  I will stop for now, here are a few photos:

Real summer weather came to Britain while my parents were here

Real summer weather came to Britain while my parents were here

We have to enjoy it while it lasts!

We have to enjoy it while it lasts!

We had a BBQ with both sets of grandparents . . . had to have a truce in the water fight so the grandmas could walk to and from the house!

We had a BBQ with both sets of grandparents . . . had to have a truce in the water fight so the grandmas could walk to and from the house!

All 5 Meadlings made it into the paddling pool.

All 5 Meadlings made it into the paddling pool.

We  really enjoyed our holiday with my parents.

We really enjoyed our holiday in Somerset with my parents.

A trip to a nearby park . . .

A trip to a nearby park . . .

One baby balancing on the beam

One baby balancing on the beam

Walking in the fields near where we stayed

Walking in the fields near where we stayed

I call this the "Ruth and Naomi" photo . . . the girls gathered up loose grass from a field to feed to the Exmoor ponies that were behind the house where we stayed.

I call this the “Ruth and Naomi” photo . . . the girls gathered up loose grass from a field to feed to the Exmoor ponies that were behind the house where we stayed.

Hannah in one of her creative costumes

Hannah in one of her creative costumes

Grandpa and Kaylah

Grandpa and Kaylah

And Grandma and Kaylah!

And Grandma and Kaylah!

On my parents' last day here, we went to Bowood.  It happened to be the hottest day in England since 2006!

On my parents’ last day here, we went to Bowood. It happened to be the hottest day in England since 2006!

Normally, we enjoy the waterfall at Bowood from a distance.  That day the kids cooled off IN the waterfall!

Normally, we enjoy the waterfall at Bowood from a distance. That day the kids cooled off IN the waterfall!

Aliyah's turn!

Aliyah’s turn!

The result was four drenched kids!  I was so hot I kept asking them to give me wet hugs!

The result was four drenched kids! I was so hot I kept asking them to give me wet hugs!

This photo is for Grandma.  She brought this mini-mouse dress for Kaylah.

This photo is for Grandma. She brought this minnie-mouse dress for Kaylah.

Kaylah is really changing.  She's 18 mos. now and starting to say all kinds of words.

Kaylah is really changing. She’s 18 mos. now and starting to say all kinds of words.

Just in the last week she's started to play with dolls.  Here she is "reading" a book to her "beebee."

Just in the last week she’s started to play with dolls. Here she is “reading” a book to her “beebee.”

Thanks for your prayers for us!  We will try to do a little better about updating this website.  My goal is to work on some of the other pages that need updating during the next few weeks.  School planning is calling to me too, so we’ll see how far I get.