July and August... the rewind.

Blogging has definitely taken a back seat to waiting to go meet our boys and living life with our sweet Gabriel.  The day to day life of summer seemed long but it's hard to believe that it's already August and summer and it's beautiful weather is almost just a memory.  We made so many memories and are so excited to see what next summer hold for our family of 5!  FIVE!

But here's our summer in rewind...

Fourth of July at the Indians game followed by Fireworks.  Gabe's first!

Lots of baseball! 

A favorite pastime is stopping at playgrounds.  Close to our home or if we happen upon them while driving... Gabe loves a new place to play.

Meeting baby Anna, Gabe's newest cousin. 

Rocket launching in the front yard.

 Gabe's first Vacation Bible School!  He had so much fun and learned so much!

Golf Them Home fundraiser!

Splash park fun!

Multiple trips to the local fairs!

Pure cuteness.

Impromptu trips to an indoor water park.

The zoo with our besties.

Fun with Ethan at Dave and Busters!

Stopping at every "picture taker" we find.

Lake Erie Nature Center... Gabe's favorite exhibit is the bees.

Date night Tribe game with this handsome fellow.  And a short walk to see the world's largest outdoor chandelier.

Dancing in the rain.  There is always time to dance in the rain.  Always.

One of Gabe's birthday presents was a family pass to the aquarium and we were so excited to use it for the first time! 

Lots of time in Nonny and Papo's back yard. 

Children's Museum of Cleveland.  A fun and messy time of learning.  

 Babysitting baby Anna.  Gabe was a great help.

June in Rewind.

Seriously!  Where did June go?  I can't believe we've already turned the calendar over and moseyed our way through the first few days of July.  June was a great month over here!  The sun came out, the rain slowed down and we've spent many lazy days enjoying the slowness summertime brings.

Gabe started baseball, we celebrated birthdays, enjoyed friends and family and learned we are one single signature away from traveling to meet our sweet sons. So what did we fill our days with?

 

Finally meeting a soul sister face to face.

 

Enjoying the splash pad in the bright sunshine.

 

Bubble fun on the front porch.

 

 Trips to the zoo to pet goats, ride trains, see animals... and ride a camel!

 

Played many games of Snakes and Ladders... even by candle light.

 

 Celebrating Gabe's awesome Daddy on Father's Day

Front yard baseball.  Representing our friends in El Salvador

 

More time at the splash pad... and sometimes it leads to ice cream! 

 

 Trips to the $1 Regal Summer Shows.  Gabe sat through his first of many feature films to watch Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Two.



 

Afternoon Indians game with Nonny.  10 innings.  Indians won.  Gabe sat through the whole game with rapt attention.  He is obviously loving baseball this summer!

 Gabe loved clapping along to the drummer at the Indians game. 

He was so much fun to watch.

 

 Welcoming home our friend K from Ethiopia was a HUGE highlight for us. There really is nothing better than seeing an orphan become a son, a family welcome their brother home. K and our sweet Thomas are best buddies!  We can't wait to get them back together here in Ohio once our boys are home.

 

Celebrating Samsel's birthday with ice cream sundae's.  And hot dogs because

Gabe doesn't like ice cream!

Enjoying visits from friends

 

 

 The arduous process of stripping and painting Samsel's crib began.  It is certainly a labor of love but it is turning out beautiful.  I can't wait to tuck him in it and watch him fall asleep.

 

 A little dancing in the rain.  Gabe gets his love of storms from his Daddy.

And there was always time for watching the clouds, airplanes and birds fly above us.  Gabe has certainly taught us to take it all in and appreciate what's around us; like sunshine, cool green grass and planes over head.

The official June wrap-up.  It was a good month.  I can't wait to see what's to come in July.