Uncle Carl and Aunt Dianne Sighting!

Always so fabulous to get to laugh the sort of deep, wonderful, healing laughs that come from Uncle Carl!  And so wonderful to get to connect with Aunt Dianne - always such joy and reminders of the things that matter.

Reeve - Other Photos

For the main picture, did we make the right choice?  Give your input if you'd like to decide which picture might be better or even more of a winner.  (Of course, they are all winners when you have a kid like that!)

Reeve - The Photo

Part of the summer tradition is usually (though not always) getting some summer shots of our kids.  Portrait Innovations does a fabulous job and we try to get there in the summer.  Here is the go-to shot that we especially liked from Reeve.

Sunset Near Our House

It is sometimes easy to forget the long summer nights and the staggering beauty of the sunsets.  A glimpse from near our house on one of those perfect NW Ohio evenings. 

Photos

The girls, with Laura around, got to enjoy some photo shooting and capturing the fun emotions and expressions of summer. 

Enjoying Writing!

 Some pretty wonderful opportunities at the writer's conference.  Not just the beautiful surroundings, but also add in some world-class presenters and workshop leaders.  Getting to learn with Kwame Alexander!  Not too shabby!

Enjoying the Evenings

 The girls got to enjoy some wonderful evenings with grandpa and grandpa and cousins.  Fire pits, wonderfully, clear skies, full moon, ahh. . .the joys of summer!

Goodbye Ampang

Well, the two weeks of doing the best to support the transition are now up. . . and yeah - time for summer to start!  Doug says goodbye to Ampang and the old campus and heads to Ohio.  

Ice Cream in the Yard

The girls, of course, always enjoy some wonderful chances to get ice cream. With Tracy in Maine and Doug just returning, the girls stayed with cousins. 

Yum!

At The Writer's Conference

Tracy had the privilege of working with Penny Kittle, working with a group of ISKL colleagues and getting to really think through some of the ways to help develop writers.  What a picturesque location, as well!

In Ohio

Good times with the girls together in Ohio.  Reeve goes to driving school for the mornings - and there is lots of down times as the summer manages to find ways to stay busy. 

World Cup Fever

One of the hidden benefits of having a lot of down time this summer has been getting to watch a lot of World Cup.  When Australia was playing, Jane and Meg invited me to watch the game and enjoy some Australian spirit at Sold Out.  Good fun - and lots of good times.  The later games, when interesting, can be taped and watched the next day, given the time zone changes.

Work at the New Campus

There is certainly a lot of work taking place at the new campus - and good to see some of the progress.  Most of Doug's day is spent with the mornings at the Ampang Campus working on the pack-up and finalizing details.  Then the late morning and early afternoon are spent at the New Campus, hot, sweaty and checking for defects and managing the on-going work within the middle school area.  Lots of work being done - and lots more to go.

An Evening Bike Ride

The long summer evenings are a great chance to enjoy the bike path and get to enjoy the beautiful weather and magic hour of good lighting.  A bit of laughter and fun always add to the enjoyment.

Cheers!

Cheers to the wonders of summer. The smiles tell the whole story. 

In Field of Dreams

Okay. . .so maybe just in fields.  Always great to get some pictures of the girls. . .compliments of Laura's enthusiasm for photography. 

Enjoying the Porch

Yes, this picture does not at all look posed - and fun for the girls to get to see the skies - that are so much bluer than in KL - and the grass that is so much greener.  What a delightful way to spend a summer evening. 

A Driver!

What!  Reeve, in preparation for taking Driver's Ed, got his learning permit.  A good celebration and opportunity to learn some new skills.  And what a good looking picture!

Now for some driving school work. 

Packing Up the Office

Part of the transition to the New Campus at Ampang Hilir, of course, involves packing up everything and getting the offices ready for departure.  What a huge job!

A Birthday!

Always great to return just in time to celebrate a birthday. . .well at least for those who were able to leave right when school was out.  Happy Birthday!  And a fun time to celebrate as a family

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At The Sandlins!

The girls, of course, are so excited to be back in Ohio - and getting to hang out with Laura.  Good fun and great times getting to be with cousins. 

Home!

Wow!  Home!  So nice to be back in their own rooms and have the chance to enjoy some of the fun that comes with the awe of summer, the beginning of vacation, the reality of jetlag when there is nothing that really needs to be done.   Add in the bonus of cousins and you get a good dose of fun.

MPO Visit (Doug)

It was sad to say 'goodbye' for a couple of weeks while the kids and Tracy headed to the start of summer.  To begin the start of the work of transitioning to the new campus, Doug took advantage of the excellent MPO offerings to visit a Sunday Concert.  The views of the Twin Towers are truly iconic - and something to continually visit with a sense of awe.

Heading Home (Kids)

While Doug needed to stay for a couple of weeks to help with the transition to the new campus, the kids headed home on the long flight.  Ah. . .the start of summer (for some).