Happy Halloween from the "Bloody Bridal Party!"

Kiera and two of her neighborhood girlfriends came up with the idea to be a "bloody bridal party" for Halloween. While it made me miss her younger years and "sweet" costumes, it was fun to see the girls do this on their own...not to mention the fun they had dirtying and bloodying their costumes!

Winnie the Pooh and Crew with the B.B.P.

 More neighborhood friends

 Every year Dave walks with Kiera around the neighborhood

and I stay home to pass out the candy. This year kitty "helped."

Sorting her loot is her second favorite Halloween activity...

The first? Eating all the candy!  

 This took about twenty shots to get the candy to fall gradually,

not in one big lump...we laughed so hard! 

Block Party 2018

 This year our annual block party was bigger than ever...we invited the three blocks south of Wolf Road! We had it in October this year and dubbed it the "Block-Tober Fest." The weather was unseasonably warm and it was supposed to rain. It didn't rain all day during the party, but there was a five minute down pour just as we were starting to clean things up. One of the neighbor's friends had a big smoker and he cooked all kinds of delicious meat. We also had a corn hole tournament, a sidewalk chalk coloring contest, games and we projected the Indians play off game outside. We love our neighbors and our neighborhood!

Dave entered the sidewalk chalk competition

No party is complete without a chalk board sign!

 Lester cracked us all up when he busted out 

the microphone!

 Kiera and co. hanging out

Ron and his behemoth smoker!

 Let the games begin!

Kiera and Kitty in the News!

Kiera and Brine were featured in the local paper, The Westlake Bay Village Observer to advertise the annual "Pet Blessing" at St. Raphael Church. The photo was taken at the previous year's pet blessing, when Brine was still a kitty. 

Summer Fun with the Littlest Kette

Our favorite five year old came to visit for three weeks this summer!

G's first visit to the farm

 Love this one! On our way for ice cream after 

Kiera's softball game. 

At Kiera's softball end of season party on the lake

A domino rainbow

Meeting Miss Sadie

Our family has grown by one...another girl, Sadie! Nicole and the girls were visiting in Columbus, so we jumped at the chance to meet Sadie without making the trek to Minnesota. We enjoyed a fun afternoon playing, laughing, catching up and did I say playing? 

The big kids playing dominoes

Kiera and the giant unicorn

The girl cousins

The girls plus C

Freckles!

Smiles!

Maui

Zoo

It wouldn't be summer with out a trip (or three!) to the zoo. This year, the zoo hosted the Asian Lantern Festival. We went during the day, so we didn't see the displays lit up, but they were still beautiful. This is the second year in a row that we've taken C and G to the zoo with us. 

Petting zoo

The new exhibit

Prayers from Maria Sunflower Field

Every year, Kiera and I volunteer together at the "Prayers from Maria" Sunflower field. We greet and talk with visitors and sell Maria merchandise. Though we never knew Maria, she attended Kiera's school and her family is still a member of our parish, so this organization is extra special to us! This year's harvest came sooner than expected (it was set to bloom in September, during childhood cancer awareness month). Due to construction, this may be the last year for the field at this location, but the field will bloom again next summer...somewhere! 

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace

Christina and Brennan's Wedding Day

August 25, 2018

Kiera passing out the programs...

Mimi is Bean's Godmother and both 

Godmothers did a reading at the wedding.

Lots of hugs and love for the bride!

On to Firestone Country Club for the reception! 

Before we went in, we took a gazillion pics and got

sooooo many good ones!

The bridal party rode in on golf carts!

Love their happy, genuine smiles! 

Emmy and Kiera...besties! 

"An aunt is like a mom, only cooler."

These two have way too much fun together!

B + K = Best Cousins Forever

All the heart eyes for this gorgeous pic of the Groth Family!

The Wallace's Card Box...it's the fourth one I've made! 

Bean, or shall I say Mrs. Wallace, shared 

these stunning professional photos with me