mom is over the hill.

The kids and Matt helped me celebrate the big 4-0 this year -- good times!

Cute daisy garden-themed ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins (with my favorite chocolate fudge ice cream). 

Me posing with the gorgeous vase of flowers that my good friend, Jen, sent. 

Talk about being surprised...this guy showed up on my porch a couple of days before my birthday.
My oldest brother, John, flew in from Texas and stayed with us for three nights. What an incredible gift and a huge surprise. I'm not big on surprises, but this is one that I'll take any day. 

My mom, dad, and brother with Lincoln and Cassidy.
Note: my middle brother, Jeff, was in Louisville at this time getting ready to tackle a full Ironman - whew! 

Mom and daughter.

My brother, Jeff, made this fantastic photo book for me, with 40-years worth of memories.
I love it! 

Matt, Julie, John, YiaYia, Papou, Lincoln, and Cassidy out by the orange tree.
Love the family time!

Dragonfly & Butterfly Bash.

I took the kids to this event at a local park on a lazy Sunday morning in September. We went on a nature walk and learned interesting facts about dragonflies and butterflies. We saw quite a few dragonflies. Apparently they can be found year-round around this local lake. The kids were given nets to try to catch some dragonflies. They tried and tried, but never actually caught one. It was fun though!

Cassidy with her bug catcher net.

Lincoln and Cassidy trying to capture some dragonflies.

Almost got one!

Lincoln with his bug catcher net. 

 After the nature walk, we went inside and the kids got to do several bug-related crafts and activities.

Coloring butterfly masks.

My two cuties. 

Rawhide.

Granny came for a visit in September. It was still nice and hot while (actually, annoyingly hot) while she was here. We were able to get out one of the evenings to head to a nearby Old West town aptly named Rawhide.

Granny, Lincoln, Matt, and Cassidy at the entrance to Rawhide.

Granny and Matt watching the kids run down the old dirt road. 

We watched a short theatrical show in the Six Gun Theater. 

Granny, Matt, Linc, and Cass getting ready for the show in the Six Gun Theater. 

The kids in their proper place:  JAIL! 

To the electrical chair, Lincoln!

Now it's your turn, Cassidy. 

For her one activity at Rawhide, Cassidy chose to do a burro ride. She really enjoyed it! 

Lincoln chose to have a go on the mechanical bull. Hilarious. 

student council.

Beginning in 4th grade, students have the opportunity to be selected to be one of two classroom representatives for student council. Lincoln ran...and won! Congrats, bud. Below, he is proudly displaying his Student Council t-shirt.

first day of school 2015.

With us having year-round school here in Chandler, the kids started the new school year in July. Here the are on their first day!

knitting.

While Grandma was here visiting in June, she took some time to begin teaching Lincoln how to knit! There was all sorts of knitting lingo being thrown around. I have no idea what they were talking about, but they really enjoyed themselves.

Lincoln proudly displaying his first finished project: a dish cloth.
Way to go! 

happy father's day.

Father's Day was a bit low-key this year as we had just gotten home from vacation in California the day before. Dad chilled out at home, we swam in the pool, and ate in. It was a nice, relaxing day.

Here is Matt with his two little people.