Pool Party

We bought a pool this summer and have
gotten GREAT use out of it in the hot weather.
Katrina and Samuel have had a blast in the pool.
Splashing.
Floating.
Hanging out.

Happy birthday, Papa!

Happy birthday, Papa!

You are the best papa for us.

We love that when you come home from

work you find us and hug us and kiss us.

We love that you wrestle with us and tickle us.

We love that you spend time playing with us.

We love that you enjoy the things we enjoy.

We love that you are always interested in what we

did during the day.

We love that you work so hard for our family.

We love that God picked you for us and us for you.

We know that our new baby brother is going

to love you just as much.

In fact, everyone who knows you can't

help but love you.

You are a lovable guy!

Some have said you are like a teddy bear.

We are so glad you are our teddy bear!

Happy birthday, Grandpa!

Sunday evening marked the time

we celebrated Grandpa's birthday.

Grandpa, being the oh-so-gracious man that

he always is let Samuel blow out his candle!

We love that you sit on your rocking chair

and read us your taxidermy magazines.

We love that you mow the lawn whenever Samuel is

over so he can help you.

We love that you are always interested in

what we have to say.

We love you so much, Grandpa.

We are so thankful that God picked you for us.

We look forward to spending another year

of wonderful memories with you.

P-themed PARTY

Pancho celebrates his birthday on the 16th

and our good friend Peyton celebrates her

birthday on the 13th so we decided it would be

perfect to have a P-themed party for the

birthday girl and boy!

We started out with pina coladas.

Then we enjoyed three kinds of homemade pizzas:

BBQ chicken (Pancho's favorite)

Pepperoni (Peyton's favorite)

&

Pesto (an all-around yummy pizza and it started with a p!)

After pizza we pulled out the polka-dot

cupcakes and sang happy birthday.

We ended the P-themed party festivities

with a pinata!

If you take a close look at the pictures

of the pinata part of the party,

you will notice that the children as well as

Pancho are all wearing helmets.

We like to call this:

Venezuelan tradition meets American safety standards.

Happy birthday, Pancho and Peyton!

Season's 1st Corn Roast

We enjoyed grilled corn on the cob

this evening for dinner.

Katrina and Samuel dug right in!

Just a Swingin'

This has been the view out the
kitchen window the last week or so.
I absolutely adore seeing them
swing together on our little swing set.
They are such good friends!

An Evening at the Farm

We went to some friend's farm so Pancho

could help bale hay.

The kids were so excited to

"go to the farm."

They even wore their farm hats!

Katrina's favorite part was the horses

and being allowed to feed them.

Samuel enjoyed sitting on and later

getting a ride on the 4-wheeler.

They even learned how to play

badminton.

Well, maybe they did not learn to play

but they used a badminton

racket and birdie to have some fun.

Thanks, Graham's, for the fun evening!

Do you know what this means?

This means that it is getting closer.

It means that we are getting ready.

It means that in 5 weeks and 3 days

(or sooner)

we will be welcoming the second little man

into the Duran family.

Last week I started making meals

in double.

One for dinner and one for the freezer.

This weekend our dear friends gifted

us with the car seat for the baby.

Yesterday at my OB appointment

I signed the paperwork for the

C-section

(scheduled for August 15th).

And yesterday we ordered the

third disc for my mother's necklace

(no, the baby's name is not Nathan).

This is really happening.

We are really going to have another baby.

I am sure that sounds quite absurd to you,

especially if you have seen me and my

ever-growing belly.

Yet for me, it is amazing!

As I walked out of the doctor's office

yesterday I could not help but praise

the Lord for the road He has walked with us

the past 7+ months.

The journey has been one of a lot of stretching

(literally and spiritually)

and I truly believe we are

more transformed into the people

He desires us to be today.

The next 5+ weeks will go by quickly, I am sure.

My prayer is that God will continue to

work in our hearts to prepare us for

that which He has in store for us.

We are confident that whatever

it is, it will be for His glory and

for our good.

Best Buds

Tonight we enjoyed the Mosinee

fireworks with our good friends.

We were able to capture an incredible

picture of them all smiling and 75%

of them looking at the camera.

If you have ever taken pictures of

multiple children spontaneously

you know what a feat this is!

A little fun

This evening we went to Marathon Park

for a little diversion.

The kids each enjoyed 3 carnival rides.

We had dinner and then Katrina participated in the

"Nick's Kids Show."

We had a GREAT time!