The Rest of July 2025

July 2025

July happened so long ago. (It's mid-September.) Here are a few pictures:

My mom had a good morning. She was playing the piano, and we went on a walk. Then she started feverishly cleaning the house: unloading cabinets, emptying drawers, hurrying from one room to the next to shuffle piles and fluff pillows. It was hard to keep up with her. Sometimes her mind just won't let her body relax.

Two of the areas she rearranged.

She finally saw this chair and collapsed for a much needed rest, and then I was able to coax her to the floor to be a little more comfortable. The couch was so close, but she was out of energy!

I am grateful for the days I get to spend with her. I'm often exhausted, but it's also a sweet experience to get to love and take care of my mom two days a week.

Sunday night fun, and Lauron was in town too.

La, Aub, Erin, Kaide, Tanner & Hudson

My dad playing with his great-granddaughter Gracie. It's so impressive to me that he still gets down on the floor to interact with the grandkids. I hope I can be as involved and as in shape.

Spiderman was spinning webs and showing off his agility one moment and asleep on his daddy's lap the next. It was pretty adorable. (Adam holding Noah)

Our Sunday night gatherings can at times be boring and feel monotonous, but they really help us connect as a family too. I'm glad we have this tradition. 

I love the four distinct groups in this photo. 1. Becca, Lincoln, Braddock, and Char playing speed. 2. The teens on the couch. 3. My dad talking with a sister from church. 4. Brit, Adam, and Megan

Moving on to GiGi and Kaide day. I try to have him over for a morning each week. We fill our special time with obstacle courses, walks to Grandpa Vores, games, snacks, bike rides, Play-Doh, and whatever his heart desires.

He has really been into puzzles lately. I love seeing him use his thinking skills to figure things out. Since he has been so interested, I made him a family puzzle: a blank from Amazon, a photo collage, a DTF print, a heat press, and a razor blade...It was a pain in the neck...I would recommend ordering one online.

This was one of our snacks. He had tomatoes....so many tomatoes. I had Tru Fru (chocolate covered frozen strawberries). He had absolutely no interest in trying mine. He knew he had the best treat already.

Aubrey and her friend Maci work at a delicious and expensive barbeque restaurant called Brantley Creek. They can bring food home after work. (Aubrey never does, and Bri and I give her a bad time.) One day, Maci brought this whole rack of ribs! We were impressed and envious!

We made it to the temple together one Saturday. It always feels like such an accomplishment. The Lubbock temple is 2.5 hours away and fills up early for weekend sessions, so it takes a little bit of planning on our end. I'm always glad when we make it happen.

We celebrated two big birthdays in July: Grandpa Vore's 77th and Kaide's 3rd

This year, I ordered these tattoos of my dad to surprise him. All throughout the day, family members stopped by and showed off their lovely/awesome tattoos. I was working that day too, so it was fun to have so many visitors.

Tanner went for the face display.

Brit brought over his favorite chocolate pound cake that his mom, our Gran Vore used to make for him each year.

Gram represented!

I was impressed that Adam and Megan brought the whole crew to celebrate. Later, one of Adam's coworkers was like, "Oh, I didn't know you had a tattoo!"

Lincoln, Adam, Noah, Megan, Gracie, Gram, Grandpa & Christian

Kaide's birthday party was amazing. Tanner and Erin always go all out. Well, I think Erin really makes it happen (invitations, tons of food, party favors, etc.), but he is all hands on deck with set up, clean up, and being present and involved. Tanner reminds me each year how I made him stop having birthday parties after the age of twelve and basically ruined his life. This year, I told him I was glad he was breaking tradition and making Kaide's day so special. I don't think I mentioned that we also didn't start having friend birthday parties until they turned five. Life is so hard sometimes.

But I digress....

The Birds were so kind in lending their backyard and shop for the big day. Tanner & Erin ordered this giant waterslide for the b-day bash. They also set up a Slip-N-Slide and cornhole. 

Kaide was very brave to try the huge waterslide and ended up loving it.

Kaide & Ella

Kaide & Papa

Kaide has really been into Spidey and Friends, and his b-day theme was Spiderman. I thought we had the perfect gift picked out, a Spiderman costume. He was wigged out by it and wouldn't even touch it. It was kind of hilarious. I think/hope he will eventually warm up to it.

There were four large tables for guests and two food tables set up inside the shop. I just kept thinking of Aubrey's grad party we threw six weeks before. It was a lot of work. Erin throws Kaide the equivalent of a grad party each year, and she makes it look so effortless. It's impressive.

It was fun to have a reason to gather with friends and family. Kaide was super cute greeting everyone with a huge smile and excitedly saying, "Happy Birthday!" He was also cute opening his gifts and being thankful.

Happy 3rd birthday Kaide Tanner. We love you!!!