Lake Thunderbird!

We got the gift of visiting Lake Thunderbird from the Melines. This is another annual summer adventure that we successfully made happen! Unfortunately we couldn’t find any friends to go with us this year. 

We started our day at the lake! The inflatable tubes were super helpful to get out to the slide and the jumping dock. It was a bit windy and the boys almost lost the tubes a couple times. Cade retrieved a ball for a kid which got caught in the far corner of the swimming area. Callie and Mommy worked on swimming near the shore. Unfortunately it was cloudy, so it did add some chill to the air and all of a sudden a storm quickly rolled in and it started to pour. We got to the van and decided to drive to the pool and see if we could catch some more fun after the storm passed. We had to wait a good 30 minutes but we did have some fun in the pool after the storm. A friend from PCA was swimming and a couple other kids which made for some fun pool games for the big kids. Callie and Mommy practiced swimming more! 

Playtime with A Friend!

Callie was excited to take her dolls over to her friend Mia’s for a summer afternoon play date. 

Biking Expeditions!

Our summer days are filled with bike fun. Trips to the park on our bikes happens often. Callie and Mom have driven to Zearing Park while the boys have ride on their bikes so we could meet them there. Then they all enjoy riding around the bike path together. Callie did 3 laps one day! Some evenings, we would all go as a family in the truck. The kids would then ride while Mom and Dad walked or ran together. So fun to be active as a family together!  

Callie did make it on her bike up to Douglas School a couple times.. Success! Her legs are growing stronger and her pedal power is improving! She is growing up!

Happy 41st Birthday Daddy!

Daddy celebrated his 41st birthday on a Sunday this year! He had a full day of preaching and work at church. We surprised him good with a hand forged knife! He loves it! It was so fun to get him something we know he would enjoy! Happy Birthday Love! Thanks for being the best! 

Summer Dunes Trip

We had planned to take our RV out to Iowa for the Fair on August 3rd but after two weeks of confusion about it getting fixed, we had to give up on getting the RV to Iowa in time to be in the band of cousin campers! Instead we headed  towards the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to enjoy the beach together. This summer day trip is something Joel looks forward to each year. Last summer it didn’t happen. The drive is about an hour longer than we like, and parking is always tricky, but we make it happen to see that happy smile on our beach boy’s face. Thankfully Daddy has been able to come the last few years which definitely lessens the stress load! This year Dad had to park about 1/2 to 1 mile away from the beach. Thankfully he was able to drop us and all our belongings off first. We have no cell phone communication when we are at the beach so that can make the drop off and pick up situation a bit hairy. 

The water was a bit chilly for Mom’s liking, but the kids enjoyed the waves and riding in our inflatable donuts. The sand got too hot to walk much on it but we did attempt a volleyball game! 

We made it home in time for Dad to get to the church league softball game on time, with the kids and Mom following close behind. We got a phone call right after Dad left that they needed Cade to play. So he grabbed his football cleats and glove and we got him to the field. He was excited and nervous to play all at the same time. Thankfully they were playing Bureau Township so we had friends who were encouraging on the other side of the ball. Pop even played! What a special treat! 

It happened!!

It was always a happy site when the cement truck showed up in our driveway this summer. On this particular day we got our driveway and sidewalk poured. We then had to wait a week before driving on it, but we did play some water balloons in the driveway. Our road and driveway situation just made our summer a bit more exciting with what was to come!  

Callie’s 5th Summer

Callie’s ticket was drawn for the Butterfly collection for the summer reading program. Cade’s ticket was also drawn to win a board game called Azul. Joel worked really hard and got so many tickets but his did. It get drawn for the Minecraft Lego collection. Poor buddy. He was so disappointed. Thankfully Azul was a game we could all enjoy together. Hopefully next year Joel can take home a collection! 

We have loved our moments at the pool this second half of July. Callie is growing more confident in the water. And sweet corn season is here, I think it would be an understatement to say Callie loves her sweet corn. At one particular meal this season, she shucked 12 ears all by herself for dinner. What a little helper she is! 

Lambert Love

Our last day with the Lambert’s was full of time together, playing at the park, to the bowling alley, and The Lion King at the theater (Daddy and Cade went to football practice). 

Special Softball Moments

We had some fun memories from church league softball when Pop took the field, along with Caleb, Curtis, and Chuck. What a fun memory and sight, all Odell men in the infield! Pop even going a couple sweet hits right down the third baseline that were smokers!

And this photo was featured in the newspaper! Look at our slugger!!

Cousins!

Cousins arrived and fun is here!! We only got a couple days of their presence but we filled them with fun. Relaxing and playing at a Grandma and Grandpa’s home, swimming together, and church league softball. We love when cousins come to visit. No doubt, one of our favorite highlights of the summer! 

Found A Gem!

Someone got ahold of Mom’s phone .... and look at the gem he left. Love these two! 

Mustache Night At Youth Group

We had a fun evening at youth group with Mustache Night! Though most of the kids were hesitant with their mustaches, by the end of the evening, mustaches were on and smiles were attached!

Spike ball!

Cade and Joel split the cost of a new game called Spikeball. We have enjoyed figuring it out together in the back yard. We gave Pop a fun introduction one evening when the McClellan’s were over for dinner! We learned cousins play it a different way than us, so the rules are adapting the longer we have it. Hopefully we can gain ground in our skills to really enjoy it and help our eye/hand coordination! 

Chillicothe Splash Pad

July 27 - We ventured down to Chillicothe to pick up Cade from playing paintball with some friends and caught some moments playing at the splash pad and town park. The sun was shining and the air was warm but the water was chilly. After playing in the water and warming up in their towels, we enjoyed the slides at the park. Mom even went down them with gusto! And Daddy’s special treat of slushees made for a fun afternoon together as a family!  

Resting!

We love being on the go, but the lazy mornings of the summer and the late afternoon naps are a favorite around here! Oh how this Momma is going to miss her baby girl napping in the afternoon when the school year comes. Stay small my babies, stay small.

Back Home!

After the excitement of Joel’s birthday we settled into the realities and routines of being home. We were welcomed home the morning after we arrived with a knock on the door that our driveway was being taken out and this began our summer parking at the PHS parking lot. 

Football camp was to start for Cade but rain kept it from happening, but we were all starting to feel the excitement of the season when Cade dressed up Callie in his helmet. 

We hit up the swimming pool this week, and had to get Callie a new swimsuit. Her suit we took on vacation got destroyed by the sand somehow. Callie looked great in her bright orange and is getting more confident in the water by herself. She is going to be swimming soon!

And we celebrated church friend, Bethany’s wedding a few day aftergetting home. Daddy was the officiant so it was a busy day. Callie enjoyed dancing at the reception!