Painting Controversy!

We are having a little controversy around here.

Amazingly, it is between the grandparents and the grandchildren!

For years the grandparents tricked the grandchildren into thinking it was great fun to "paint" the rocks near our patio with water.

They have been painting for years--and here are some pictures to prove it:

But now with our new backyard makeover, the rocks are going away and the grandchildren are up in arms!  

We have received messages: "They are all concerned about your backyard remodel" and "Will there still be rocks to paint with water?" and "Please don't do it!" and "No way, Grandma!" 

and I think I even saw a tear or two.

The Melanchuks were over early in the morning and the kids insisted on "painting" one last time.

We have assured the grandkids that there will be some boulders and other interesting things to "paint" in a few weeks!

Under Construction--Part 1!

It's summer and we like to enjoy our backyard, but we've lived here almost 22 years.  Some of the plants are dieing, fruit trees are not producing, 

 rose bushes are old and diseased,

 and some plants are just out of control.

So instead of a major summer vacation we decided to invest in a backyard makeover!

They have taken every plant and 7 trees off our slope,

 removed the rose bushes and many other bushes,

 and the garden boxes.

End of School for the Perrys!

Here are a few things from the end of the Perrys school year.

(Thanks to MaryAnn for some I copied from her blog!)

Hannah at the Writing Celebration night:

"Once a year the school district does a Writing Celebration night.  Teachers can submit their top student work and then lots of kids are chosen to come to the Celebration. Hannah's teacher picked a poem that Hannah wrote to be submitted and Hannah got to participate in the night. There were about 40 kids who did it. Maybe 8 or so from her school from Kindergarten to 6th grade. Hannah is a really good writer and it was fun for her to go to this. Everyone stands up and reads their piece to the whole group. Luckily Hannah is also the pro at public speaking. Everyone totally loved hers because hers was a funny poem and she read it with lots of emotion and had everyone cracking up."

We got to attend Hannah's orchestra concert.  She was 1st chair violin and even played a short solo!

Joshua at his Open House with his diorama showing the habitat of a poison dart frog.

And these were his spelling words that week!

(He is in 1st grade!)

aerodynamics      anatomy

arctophily            entomology

geography       geology

herpetology     mathematics

microbiology        physics

astronomy       zoology
David at a Mother's Day Tea Party at Junior Kindergarten:

And finally Jacob and Lily had some fun outside before the kids got home from school!

What a great bunch of kids!

More Fun in Texas!

What to do when it's too hot and muggy to be outside?

How about free time for kids at the gymnastics room! 

Aubrey and Bethany had so much fun playing for an hour in the gym on all the fun pieces of aparatus...the trampolines...

...the balance beams...

...the foam pit

where Dad likes to drop the girls in!

Future Olympian?

It was fun just running on the cushy runways!

Later we said we wanted to eat some place that was truly Texas-style.   How about Rudy's?   

It's part of a gas station and you eat right off the table--ribs, brisket, turkey and then some beans, potato salad and creamed corn--Yum, yum!

Poor Penny!

Penny just finished kindergarten and was anticipating a fun summer of swimming and other activities!

 Today after church she got injured!  Jeff and Suzie were at choir practice in one of the rooms that has dividers.  The kids play in one of the rooms while the choir rehearses at the other end.  Somehow in the playing a table fell on her hand and broke two fingers.   They took her in and got it all bandaged up.

Here is the X-ray of her right hand.  The bone on one of the fingers is completely broken through!

 She will be seeing an orthopedic surgeon hopefully tomorrow as they are sure she will need surgery that might inlcude a pin.

Sending love to Penny that her fingers will heal up soon!

Fun With Aubrey and Bethany!

It was great spending time with Aubrey and Bethany!

We went out to eat at new place.  The girls were so good and enjoyed doing some coloring!

A walk around the block is always fun!

John and Sara made this outdoor chalkboard including painting it with chalkboard paint.  It got installed while we were there.

We love visiting these two cute girls in Texas!