The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!

Hot and Happy in July 2023

7/31/2023

0 Comments

 

​At Home

Don and I spent almost all of July at home. 
Picture
For the first 10 days of the month, our house was loud and happy, with celebrations and voices and toys and activity.
Picture
Picture
After our long roadtrip in June, we enjoyed hanging out at the house with Heidi, Jamie and Charlie. It was nice to have time together, while their furniture was in transit from Oregon to Austin.  

​July 4th

It's been years since Don and I have had "kids" at home over the 4th.
Picture
Charlie wasn't sure what to do with that flag... so I blasted on some Sousa and we did some marching throughout the house. Can't say I've done that in recent years!

Keeping Cool

The temps reached about 100 on the 4th.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The pool helped!
Picture
Picture
A quick storm helped. Thunder sent us to the porte cochere, for some tricycle time. Hard to believe Charlie's mom once rode that!
Picture
The sun came out again and popsicles helped cool things off. 
Picture
Picture
Fresh plums, watermelon, hotdogs and corn on the cob! It felt like the 4th!

Colorful!

​Don wore his Party Crocs!
Picture
Picture
And we toasted with red, white & blue pina coladas! Toasting made me miss the rest of our family!

More Toasting

​After the 4th, Heidi was busy working remotely. We squeezed in some toe-time after work one day.
Picture
We did not have coffee on those mugs. It was after 5.

Pop-Pop Time

Heidi and Jamie left for Austin when the moving pods arrived. Don and I had Charlie to ourselves for a few days. 
Picture
I love these two together.

​Charlie doesn't do much sitting around, but she did have some couch time with Don.
Picture
Picture
We only watched TV once, to watch a little bit of "Frozen".

Singing

Charlie's voice was just as sweet as these photos, when she sang along with the Disney musical.
Picture
"'Cause for the first time in forever..."

And More Singing

We heard a lot of singing! 
Picture
Charlie's Old MacDonald Voice is much louder. I believe in both photos, she's holding that last note for a little drama.
Picture
Picture
Charlie visited the piano every day. We sent a video of "Happy Birthday to Uncle Scott..." on his birthday.

Sometimes "Grandma" was allowed to play the piano. But often I was instructed to dance to Charlie's music. "Happy!" "Sad!" "Silly!" It was exhausting. And funny.
Picture
Picture
Charlie's feet couldn't reach the pedals, so I was allowed to help with the pump organ.

Strings

We went through a lot of instruments. The cigar box "guitar" that Heidi made in high school, was a hit.
Picture
Picture
The ukuleles were fun. 
Picture
Picture
Don taught Charlie how to strum. 

Plucking the old zither was more fun than strumming. Charlie tried to sing the  sounds she made. 
Picture
Better than I could do!

Old 45s

I was excited to get out some old records from my childhood. Charlie was less enthused.
Picture
Picture
Charlie listened to Burl Ives sing "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly..."  But when he sang the words, "...Perhaps she'll die!" They didn't match the words Grandma had been singing for days. I think Charlie wondered why the man sang, "Perhaps she'll die" instead of "Perhaps she'll cry". Such a weird song! 

Pretend

​Lot of old toys and teaching props came out of hiding!
Picture
It was fun to see Charlie pretend. I'd forgotten how much I actually love to pretend. 

The old black phone was a prop I used with classes. Charlie took right to it.
Picture
I'm not even sure who she was talking to!

Books

​I adore reading books to kids, but mostly Charlie read to me.
Picture
She found this old gem, made by my dad and brother.

Eloise

The book that Charlie seemed to like the best was my childhood favorite, Eloise!
Picture
Charlie could definitely relate to the spunky 6 year old Eloise!

Austin

After a couple days of Pop-Pop and Grandma time, it was time to drive to Charlie's new house!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The 2.5 hour drive was nothing, compared to the 2,200 mile drive we used to make to Oregon! It was fun to see the new house, but I only stayed one night.

Quiet at Home

It should have been easier saying good-bye, since our cities are so near, now! But after  5 weeks of bonding with our favorite 2-year-old, I knew it would be tough not waking up to her in the morning!
Picture
It seemed way too quiet back in the Sugar Land house. Even the neighborhood felt quiet.

Routines and Heat

It was nice to get back to routines. I don't love running, but it felt good to get out there again.
Picture
Picture
Picture
I went early to avoid the scorching heat. I was happy for sprinklers.

Poolside

The fierce heatwave called for cold drinks. And since our downstairs a.c. went out, we enjoyed them outside.
Picture
Picture
Poor Don dealt with worsening back issues during the month. But we got a smile from him, here! 
Picture
The new baby ducks on the lake, didn't seem to notice the heat. They seemed surprised to see me. The only person not hunkering down in their air-conditioned home!

At Last!

​After a week without a.c. (and dishwasher & disposal) the house came to life with repairmen. Actually it was 2 days!
Picture
Picture
We got a new a.c. unit AND furnace. It took the workmen many trips up and down the wooden attic stairs. Some sloppy work caused a hole in the wall and stained carpet... ugh! 

Attic Adventure

I was sort of furious with the workmen, before the carpet cleaner and painter did their work. But the focus on the attic prompted me to have a look for forgotten treasures. Toy kitchen! Charlie needs that!
Picture
Picture
I only explored the oven-attic for a moment. I brought down the old "Showboat Theatre" I adored as a child. I cleaned it and played!

Finishing the Month

By the end of the month, Don's back was feeling up for a drive to Austin, so he could see the fam in the new house!
Picture
We only stayed one night, but what a fun time! And what a relief to know we no longer have to book flights or block big amounts of time. What a sweet way to end the month of July!
​
0 Comments
    Picture

    Happy List  
    ​

    I started this blog, by thinking about the things that make me laugh and smile. My "Photo a Day" posting began on May 27, 2016.  I had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and I found I could keep things positive, by sharing some of my favorite photographs. After 7 months, I stopped the daily habit and aimed for monthly posts. 

    ​Now, at the end of each month, I look back at all the things I enjoyed in the weeks before. I share some photos, along with a few words. It's a good reminder to myself, to feel grateful every day. 

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!