Hello JULY!

And just like that, it's July! Our sitter "ghosted" us and just stopped showing up on Zoom. No word, no email, just stopped.  Coincidentally, our neighbor texted us to ask if we needed a sitter.  An incoming senior was supposed to be a camp counselor this summer, and with everything canceled, she was looking for work.  So, she started coming over to keep the boys' schedule.  In the first week, she had them outside playing and they seem to really like her.  She is extremely flexible and that is what we need right now.  I was supposed to go back to the office starting this week, but that has been delayed with the COVID spikes happening in Hamilton County.

Hayden started back with his coach for personal training sessions.  I have taken him the past couple of weeks, while Marty goes to the gym.  

Thursday night, was our "Friday" with the long weekend.  We had the Carrolls over for wine and dessert.

Hayden made dessert pizza as part of his Brain Chase challenges.

Friday, we surprised the boys with our first visitor into our house.  They asked me if it was better than Kona Ice and if it was a puppy.  I told them it was bigger and warmer than Kona Ice.  They told me it was better than a puppy. 💞

Disney + streamed Hamilton for Independence Day.  It was perfectly fitting to have Rachel join us to watch.  One of our favorites and one of our favorite actors!

Saturday morning was yard work and housework.  We had the Bernicke boys and Kyle Reckamp come over.  Steve Bernicke also pitched in to help.  With so many hands, they were done before noon!

After yardwork and mulching, Marty cleaned the gutters.  The boys wanted to check it out too.

Hayden and I stopped at Blooms and Berries to pick up a few things.  He matched. 😂

I laid in the hammock and the boys ran through the sprinkler.

We had dinner around 5:30 outside.

Lemon fruit tart from Good Pie Y'all. I love supporting local, especially Madeira local, these days.

Sunday, we went to Bass Island for a short hike.  Because it's gotten so hot, we headed out around 8:30.

The boys rode their bikes first and then we walked into the woods.

The boys skipped rocks.

We had intended to go straight to lunch at 50W but Beckham got into something poisonous, so we went home to wash his legs off. We determined it might have been stinging nettle.

50W opened a burger bar, just while quarantine was happening.  Apparently, it's been extremely popular.  We decided to check it out.  We are still a little nervous about restaurants and shared spaces, so we got there right when it opened.

We each got a different burger. Mine was the Colorado: Spicy green chile, salsa, Ghost Pepper Jack Cheese and Jalapeno. 

The boys had Cookies n' Cream milkshakes.  This may have been their first or 2nd time.

We love our neighbors.  It's going to be the hardest part about moving.  Alex (21) and Samuel (18) hung out with the boys for a while, after the yard work was done.  They came back over today to jum on the trampoline with them.  Their personalities are very different, and reminds me of the boys.  Samuel especially, has similar characteristics to Beckham.  They are the nicest and very respectful.  We hope the boys get to keep having such a positive influence in their lives.

Boy, are 3 day weekends NICE!  We needed it this week.  We were supposed to be in Seattle and then Banff this week.  Banff has been on my wish list for 2 years.  Now it's at least 3.