Thursday: Tractor Pull - Part 1

 It's afternoon, and everyone is doing various things -- Debs & Ben, works of art --

 -- Stephen faces off at ping pong with Micah --

 -- and Kandace is journaling... :)

 Mrs. E and grandbaby :)

 It's "visiting hours," and here we are! ;)

 Making cookies for the 4th!

 Yum

 Aunt Deborah -- a great aunt for any kid to have! :)

 Brothers :)

 And... here we are, arriving at the Whitewright Truck & Tractor Pull!

 Our group :)

And don't forget Kandace! :) Our group was rather small -- we'd hoped the E guys could come, but this is their "busy season," and unfortunately... :(

 Okay, this may be a dumb pic to post -- but I was so tickled with these gold sparkly flipflops! ;)

 This was Stephen and Deborah's very first tractor pull!

 Getting the track ready

 A video drone

 The weight truck/trailer (whatever it's called ;)

And the announcer starts off the evening...

4th of July!

(click to see larger!)

 Hail, Freedom! thy bright crest

And gleaming shield, thrice blest

Mirror the glories of a world thine own.

Hail, heaven-born peace! Our sight,

Led by they gentle light,

Shows us the paths with deathless flowers strewn.

Peace, daughter of a strife,

Abide with us till strife be lost in endless time.

Honor the few who shared

 Freedom's first fight, and dared

To face war's desperate tide at full flood;

Who fell on hard won ground,

And into Freedom's round

Poured the sweet balsam of their brave heart's blood.

They fell, but o'er that glorious grave

Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.

Father, Whose mighty power

Shields us through life's short hour,

To Thee we pray: Bless us and keep us free;

All that is past forgive;

Teach us henceforth to live

That, through our country we may honor Thee;

And when this mortal life shall cease,

Take thou, at last, our souls to Thine eternal peace.

- Francis Marion Crawford

Just in -- a picture of two cuties I love and miss a lot! :) Beth sent it to us, and I thought I'd share it with ya'll. :)

More Baby Pics :)

 We're over during visiting time... :)

 :)

 

 Baby

 Stephen, enjoying his newest niece!

 Small photoshoot

That's all for now, folks! ;)

Tuesday

 Roses from Beth for Katelyn -- brought by the "Mrs. E Delivery Service"!

 Driving in Micah's new truck to go see Kathryn, right after lunch!

 Aunt Kandace

 Holding tight

 Aunt Debs

 Kathryn looks SO tiny when the guys hold her!

 Proud parents

 Mom and Kathryn

 Later that day, running errands

 Same photo, edited ;)

(I think it looks rather neat)