This month almost felt normal! With COVID still going strong, life is still a bit different, but it’s been sweet that some restrictions have begun to be lifted.
Choir auditions outside in a parking lot!Pretty hair on her 9th birthday.This made me laugh so hard!!!Snickerdoodle CakeThis was her first attempt to blow out her candles. Notice they’re all still lit…I took my boys to paint wood signs! While Bill took the girls out walking and shopping.Lots of water play this month.Soccer meeting!!!While the kids played in the fields.Josiah sporting his green hair preparing to cheer on his siblings in soccer.On one of our favorite neighbor’s motorcycle. Barb doing crafts and lessons with the little ones during youth group.Youth in the basement.Working hard to win a scavenger hunt sent out by their youth leaders.Bill got to lead music in a sweet friend’s wedding.I had a quiet morning outside, which meant I had a buddy. Nothing was wrong with her, btw. She just didn’t know I was taking the picture and was chatting. Giving blood to the vampires.Reading and listening at the same time. I’ll never understand you types.Got to have dinner with one of my favorites!!!! Miss this lady and the laughter and the depth and the way she points me to Jesus.Again, a quiet morning to myself. They always find me…Hiking!And a wound. Because we were playing a game on a parking lot. And I was trying to catch Bill. Which meant I ended up on my back bleeding and cackling.Hanging with friends!And playing wonderful games that where we chose a more hands-on approach than the rules called for…Four Square with my kiddos. And a stray.And GaGa Ball.Random selfies.ConqueringWater balloon pinata as a family.A visit from some of our Indy friends!!! It was exactly what my soul needed.A super serious play the kids performed.A weekend with my Victoria!!! Getting our nails did.Bill got some individual time with the older boys while I was out of town with V.Legos in the hotel room.LOTS of food.Picture books are still my favorite.Cute children’s section at the zoo in Evansville.Pretty hair.Decked out in new clothes and accessories.Getting her ears pierced.And happy relief!Hotel pool.More pretty hair.Love this little girl who’s growing too fast.Ariana captured this pic. He’s my favorite laugher. And this made us all happy because anyone who know Bill knows how much he talks using his hands. This is his classic pose.Catching up with other kids after my weekend trip with Victoria.And making up for lost time.Father’s Day breakfast. I was so proud to get a pic of him and all his kids. Until I realized Miriam was still in bed… Oh well. 90% is an A at the college level!Yes, Josh. Yes, I do.Ba dum ch!New braces!!!More fun with hair!Three Esthers in one pic!Family SkyZone day!The baby turned 8! Uncle Tony and Aunt Holly got him a giant dinosaur…And a kite! I love the delight on his face.And this pic of the kids watching the kite.They’re so fly.Meeting friends at Versailles State Park.This is what 19 kids look like. Three families…Victoria got her besties a three-part friendship necklace.Perfect hotdogs.The kids have assigned drills to get ready for soccer camp. They are 100% leading them on their own, including jogging together each week!
As with the rest of the world, COVID19 has seriously changed the way we thought this month was going to turn out! Our hearts have been in much prayer for our friends who have compromised immune systems and for our friends in health care. God has been kind to keep us healthy, and we’re incredibly grateful for weather that’s allowed us to be outside and for social media so we can still be connected to others, even if not face-to-face. As with all things broken, God still is working things for good, and the amount of time we’ve had to slow down and simply be together as a family has been a gift indeed!
The month started very sweet as these friends and I finished our Cincinnati trip together!While I was away, Bill went into project mode. He hung all twelve of our bikes in the garage!And he painted and redecorated our bedroom!!!! I’m in love! With him, though I adore the bedroom for sure.A sweet night with my favorite woman.A cool local walk while several sisters were at a meeting. We did our first escape room with some dear friends!!! And we got out! I mean, I seriously had nothing to do with it, but, man, it was fun to watch everyone else’s minds work.An elevator pic after we escapedA day at Eagle Creek ParkPelicans had rested there during migration!!! This pic was through mounted binoculars.Mom’s concert. She didn’t know this would be the end of her season or her fabulous director’s last concert. But alas, COVID19. We got to celebrate this man I love so dearly!!! That was the last time we saw them since we want to avoid spreading germs. We cannot wait to be with them again!My favorite guys and their muscles…Every girl’s dream.Even my brother contributed his pic from California!And a perfect rainbow to remind us of a faithful God before we were all quarantined. Pi Day!!!And our last outing to celebrate a sweet friend’s fifth birthday. We left this pic on his mama’s phone.So they contributed their own pic!Quarantine begins. As does a different kind of creativity.Our sweet neighbors!Trying on clothes for the warm-weather switch over, and he’s stylin’.One of many walks, this one by a beautiful creek. Though we’ve been protected from COVID19 thus far, we did catch a stomach bug. This poor little man settled here one morning and crashed out.Spring Celebration!! We do an egg hunt on the first day of spring.Normally we do bunny cinnamon rolls, but with stocks being low in grocery stores, we had to settle with waffles this year instead.Cool friend to play with on one of our walks!Our first allergic reaction! We think maybe to sesame seeds but aren’t sure yet. Poor little man!A few of our kids wanted to dye eggs.My first sewing project! Cause when you’re quarantined, you finally have all that time you’re always wanting.A school project the kids did all on their own!Social distancing ourselves during a walk.A day at McCormick Creek State Park. Most of us made mini rafts!Two of my silly teensPlaying Frisbee and kickball on gravel at the park.Fun creationsOur little family still fits on one couch!New glasses!
The Bell Family 