Oh July - where are you disappearing to?

Each year the month of July always seems like such a blip on the radar because it passes so quickly!!  I cannot believe we're moving into the last week of the month!  If you were to look up the definition of July in the Petroelje family dictionary, this year we could sum it up in one word.  BUSY!!!  Although our schedule didn't always cooperate, nor did the weather, we spent as much time as we could out at the beach while my parents were camping there in late-June, early July.  The kids just love everything about being at the beach!!

  

There was definitely a void this year, however, in the sand, as our good friends Eric and Marcy and their daughters Reese and Cambry are living in China for two years.  We sure miss them!  The kids tried to dig a hole to China in the sand with the help of "Grandpa Carl" (Marcy's dad), but as much as they tried to yell down the hole to get their attention, it was unfortunately to no avail.

We again this year watched Lyle Broekhuis' spectacular fireworks show down in the big town of Overisel!  Those of you who attended can all thank us later for contributing to the festivities, as we helped fund the project through the utilization of Lyle's well-drilling services for our new home (more on that later).  Ha! :)  As always, it was an AWESOME show and so very generous of his family to put it on.  We watched from a bit further distance this year, as we were invited over to the Schrotenboers to hang out.  It worked out great.  The kids all played together, we didn't have to chase them around, and we could enjoy some adult conversation!

Hannah and Brooke (yes, my friends, this is what she does when you ask her to smile; I am so not looking forward to our annual family picture at the beach in August)

The next day we packed up the kids and trekked out to the great state of Pennsylvania to visit Chad, Kathi, Brielle, and their newest little addition Bryce.  I thought for sure we'd have a very peaceful trip out East, considering the kids didn't go to bed until close to midnight the night before and were up early, but of course, that backfired, and we got a total of 20 minutes worth of nap out of Brooke and nothing out of G.  Sweet.  What takes my parents 8 1/2 hours to get there took us about 10, when you factor in stopping for lunch and MULTIPLE bathroom stops (which I must admit were due mostly to my pregnant bladder).  It was well worth the travel, though, to get to spend some quality time with the Carlsons!  We loved cuddling with our newest relative, playing with Brielle, going to the park, spending time at the lake, and playing in the yard.

Both kiddos were very good around Bryce, which gives me hope for December when Baby P. #3 makes his/her arrival.  Grant was such a little man holding Bryce like a big kid, and I just love, love, love this picture of Brooke with him (actually smiling normally!).

  

Once cannot travel as close to West Virginia as we did, however, without having to infuse a little nakedness into the mix.  We had baked spaghetti to eat one evening, and the kids were an absolute mess!  Instead of putting bathing suits on our children like most sensible parents would do, we just let the girls run around in the buff - like I said, we needed to become one with the natives who lived only a state away!  They "played" ladder ball and ran through the sprinklers. 

We had the opportunity to all sleep together as a family of 4 on the 3rd floor of Chad and Kathi's house.  This is also Brielle's playroom.  It's a nice large space that works out great for out of town guests to crash.  The only downfalls - it's HOT up there and my children had to sleep in the same bed.  This led to small arguments (mainly, complaints resounding from Grant's mouth that his sister was bugging him as he was trying to sleep).  One night, though, as Eric and I came upstairs to bed, this is how we found them sleeping!  We just died laughing.  Poor Brooke's stomach was being used as a pillow!  I don't know how or why they thought this was comfortable, because as I said, it was HOT up there.  Oh well - they were sleeping, and that is all I cared about at that point!

I thoroughly enjoyed my cuddle time with little Bryce, too!  He's such a cutie!!

We arrived home from our trip to find the foundation of our new house poured.  This is what has really put July over the top in the busy department.  It's been a "fun" experience thus far, but I am already so sick of making decisions because I am sooo not good at that!!  I also over-analyze things way too much, so a simple task such as picking out kitchen appliances (which was one of my chores this past week) turns into making visits to two local appliance stores, researching appliances online, reading customer reviews, asking questions of the employees of the appliance stores, etc, etc, etc.....  Bless the patience of the wonderful lady from our builder who has been helping me with these decisions!!  Too bad she goes on maternity leave this week!!  Not quite sure what I am going to do without her!!

Front of the house (the kids are standing in what will be one of the stalls of the garage)

Eric and Brooke standing at the rear of the house.

So, considering my timely nature of blog posting, the house may be completely built by the next time I update this thing!  Just kidding.  I do not scrapbook, nor will I ever try (not creative AT ALL), so this will be my only means of journaling the progress of our house (sorry for those of you who could care less!).

Lastly, just so I get it in writing for memory sake - this past week has been the hottest week in West Michigan since 1988.  I mean HOT - mid and upper 90's and humid much of the week with heat indexes in the 100's.  I had to laugh when my mom told me that she and dad built their house in 1988.  Hmmm.....coincidence??