Red, White, and Blue, and my face too.....

Happy 4th of July everyone! I took a baseball to the face last night so I had some fireworks of my own. And my lips and eye, and blood from my nose definitely showed off Red White and Blue! I'm not sure who felt worse, Chris and the kids...or me. But it was heartwhelming to have them care so much. I had kids waiting on me, and Chris apologizing numerous times, and people praying for me!
Photos are from our family gathering at Mom & Dad's for the 4th, a beach trip last week, and the fireworks tonight. We had such a good weekend, despite my face which is getting better and better.


Andre is cutting up tomatoes...Chris enjoys a pop rock float!

Dad and Mom keep modeling what it's all about through all they are going through. We had a nice time together.  Heather is cutting Grandpa's hair as Reese looks on.

Jaclyn enjoying the pop rock float and the beautiful purple petunias matured since given to us at our open house.

One day last week after we put our old home on the market, we went to the beach. It was about 95 that day so the perfect place to be! James content in the sand and the Sophia, Natasha & Jaclyn having girly time out in the water. Jonathan content with his latest baseball book from the library.

Katya sported her volleyball at the beach.

Here Andre shows his approval of the pop rock floats as well.

Chris caught some zzzz's at our family gathering this weekend. He needed it after all the work he's done to get our home on the market. Alesia & Heather take a quick photo.

Girly time again at our beach trip...Grandpa O with Sophia after Grandpa had driven the boat to the dock. What a look of accomplishment and satisfaction, especially after climbing all those stairs.

Here's our best shot at the fireworks. And below, we are grateful to prayers as my lips have been getting better and better. I don't look like an "alien" anymore as per Jonathan!

 Kids enjoyed the fireworks over White Bear Lake, with some friends.

Katya gives Mom a manicure and Dad gets in the boat for the first time this year. Such a happy day for me to see our family all together and wonderful things happening.

Girls get dolled up and play chess while waiting to go to the fireworks.
Natasha has been studying Pocahontas and writing a report on her. She is really driven to do it on her own and I enjoy seeing her spirit and phonetic spelling. Hope to hold on to her rough draft and show it to her some day when her spelling is great.

Thanks for your prayers and support. We are well, and my face is healing.

God bless you and your family.
Alesia & Chris