Red White & Bruise, Happy 4th!

It's been an eventful couple of weeks to say the least. Another update from the past post: Jason's MRI showed that he does NOT need surgery on his Achilles tendon after all. His tear was higher in the Achilles and according to the Dr. should heal up after 2 months in a cast. This was great news for us.

Now it's a summer filled with no splish-splashing around for Jason and our niece Shannon, who broke her arm last month.

We received some very bitter sweet news the same day this picture was taken. My Grandma Lepak passed away June 20th. I can't say enough about how wonderful of a person she was. She died less than 3 months shy of her 98th birthday. I would marvel at the pictures taken with her and my kids thinking about the 90+ year age difference. She lived a very full life and had a very sharp mind, pretty much until hours before she reunited with my Grandpa Lepak. I have the most amazing memories with her. For our wedding rehearsal dinner we had a luau. Of course she showed up with coconut shells on.

Her humor and laugh were contagious.

Me and my Grandma at my bridal shower.

She will be missed more than she could have ever imagined.

And so life goes on...

Summer swimming lessons and T-Ball continue at the Bartel household. McKenna and Zander are doing so well this summer compared to last summer's swimming lessons. In no time at all they will be swimming on their own, ...and then driving, graduating and getting married...sob.

Gagers loves hangin' at the beach too.

Best Buds

McKenna's first bikini. She struts her stuff in it. It may be her last bikini.

Look at these princesses faces! They are NOT liking this pre-game warm-up.

After a great day of swimming and t-ball, the night couldn't be completed until Gage took a digger on the garage step after tripping on a shoe.

Poor little guy. As if cutting teeth isn't enough.

Hope you all have a nice 4th of July.