Cave Run 2014

I love this family tradition we have developed over the past years.  This year Elizabeth invited Andrea, who plays softball at Elizabeth's school, and Conner, a friend from our neighborhood.  Beautiful weather, fun times.  I know the pictures may seem so similar year after year (the slide, the boat, the life jackets, the jumping off the top), but I promise, it never, ever gets old.

Robotics camp

This week Michael had Robotics Camp in the mornings.  Campers were assigned to two-person teams and they spent the first four days building their robots.  The last morning they had a tournament and a grand battle.  Although Michael told me that his partner spent more time texting than working during the first few days, they did something correctly: They won the Grand Battle, with their robot named Brad Jesus.  Yeah, I know - it's an unusual name.  

I will try to upload some video.  Michael is one calm competitor! 

 

Sprague-Rose memories II

Knowing we would see Aunt Mary, Aaron, and Kate again made leaving California last month a bit easier.  

This past week we were so thrilled they visited Kentucky!  We loved all our time with them, and Zoe and Niki loved all the attention they received!  I am not sure if our dogs have ever been carried, hugged, and kissed as much in a three-day span as they were the past few days. 
Highlights included watching Kate at the duck playground, hearing Elizabeth reading and reading with Kate, and listening to Aaron play the truck/Monopoly money game with Michael, Stephen, and Riley.  I also loved seeing Kate hug the huge tree in Georgetown College's library and watching Aaron determine his Deal or Not Deal strategy.
 
Kate and Aaron spent time each morning, afternoon, and evening on the trampoline.  The night they left, a strong, scary storm passed through Georgetown and dragged the trampoline across the road into a neighbor's driveway.  That was the end of our trampoline, so I'm glad Aaron and Kate got to enjoy it before it was dismantled.

As we always say to our visits, please come back soon!

California 2014!

We loved being with family! 

We loved driving in a Tesla!

We loved celebrating Aaron's birthday!

We loved being with family!





We loved watching the cousins play together!

We loved being in Bennett's open-plan home!

We loved being with family!



 

We loved going to Stanford!

We loved Mary's sleek new floors! 

We loved being with family! 

We loved the Sweet Shoppe!

We loved the ocean!

 We loved hanging out!

We loved eating out at our relatives' favorite places!

We love all of you!

We really miss you.

Holly, Jolly, Holiday World

Our annual trek to Santa Claus, Indiana - land of extremely hot, non-Christmas-like weather - was last week.  For the first time, E&M invited a friend!  The good news is they all seemed to have a lot of fun; the less good news was that that meant Steven and I had to drive separately.

Lots of roller coasters were ridden and the lines were happily short.  Michael and Steven wowed all spectators with their basketball hooping abilities and we came home with five sports banners as prizes.

The girls saw some allegedly cute guys and Michael tried to photo bomb me and Steven.

We hope that one year some of you can join us!