Jeffrey's soccer picture from Germany. What a cute boy!

Before the Cook family came back to America from Germany, they had a family picture taken. Here are Leslie and Ed with their three children: Jeffrey, Talia and Coral. Leslie and kids will stay with us while Ed is deployed to Afghanistan starting next month.

Colton just turned six months old! What a big boy!

I've been really negligent of my blog lately. I guess I've been hanging out in facebook instead. The question is, who is really checking out my blog these days and is it worth continuing. Are there people out there that don't do facebook that would like more pictures on my blog? Something to ponder. Let me know and I will comply. Trust me I have tons of pictures of my darling grandchildren I can post. I've just gotten lazy. I will repent though if needs be! :)

Okay, I've posted a lot of pictures now of Leslie and her kids visit so enjoy to the end. This is Coral after her bath sitting on Leslie's lap. Talia and Sierra are also in this picture...sort of.

Taya and Talia being snuggle bugs. Later Talia was resting on Taya's lap. Talia and Taya both are snugglers.

Megan giving "rides" to her nieces and nephew from front to back: Talia, Jeffrey, Taya and Coral. Talia really won Megan's heart and they both cried when they had to be parted.

Coral and Talia playing the piano with Ryan and Kim.

Coarl making ice cream with Grandma. She was fascinated with the whole process.

Talia and Coral trying to be "Queen of the Mountain". Coral is winning here. Talia later fell off and the game was over.

Sierra and a baby alligator at the fair.

Jeffrey and Taya at the fair. These two didn't start out real well, always trying to one up each other. By the end of their visit they were the best of buddies.

Sierra reading stories to Coral and Talia.

Leslie and Marti (my brother Daryl's wife) at Birch Bay chillin'.

Since I've been mostly posting pictures on facebook, I've neglected my blog for ages. I will show you some of the adventures we had this past summer which are too numerous to even capture. Here is Ally (my niece) and Sierra (my oldest granddaughter) at Birch Bay. They are the best buddies whenever we get together which is unfortunately, only a few times a year. In the background is my nephew Lucas.

Jeffrey has always wanted to ride Thomas the Train so that's what we did. Don't you love that fake smile?!

After we picked up Leslie and family at the airport in Seattle, we met everyone at Seahurst Park close by so David and Leslie's families could see each other for the first time in several years before David's family went home the next day. Here they are from left to right: Talia, Jeffrey, Leslie, Coral, Cambria, Makayla, David and Colton.

Talia checking out her newest cousin Colton. Ally (my brother Daryl's daughter is holding her).

Jeffrey and David having a chat. Colton is just hanging out!

Megan and Jeffrey enjoying the bumper cars.

Sierra, Jeffrey, Taya and Megan at the fair.

Coral and Talia enjoying the tire swing at the park. They didn't want to get off.

Jeffrey at "Million Smiles Park". I guess he has one of the million smiles.

Jeffrey "shopping" at Trader Joes.

Coral "Bell" on the swing.

Talia loving the trampoline.

Jeffrey, Kim, Ryan, Sierra, Bryant, Tami and Taya visiting on our very brown lawn. We hardly had any rain this past summer and that's fine with me!

Jeffrey loved riding the quad!

I've posted a lot of pictures on facebook lately, but for the benefit of my friends and family that aren't on facebook, here are some pictures of our summer adventures since our son David and his family have been visiting with us.

How Rick has been handling the heat that we've been having lately. This is where he was at the end of every hot day!

Cambria, my daughter-in-law, arranged these pictures for my kitchen. She painted the upper right picture of blueberries and won a blue ribbon and prize money for it.

Makayla, Colton, Taya and Sierra hanging out with Grandma at Lake Samish.

Sierra, Cambria and Taya coming in from a ride around the lake.

Ryan getting ready to kneeboard. The lake was so nice on the hot sunny days we've been having lately.

Kim and Ryan exhausted after church. They have been working hard lately.

David, Colton, Makayla and Cambria on Colton's blessing day. I don't think the kids wanted their pictures taken. Both were in need of a nap!

My youngest brother Daryl and his family came up from Tumwater for the blessing also. It was great seeing everyone.

VanderVeens and Weickums gathering for Colton's blessing picture in Puyallup.

Sierra wanted to make something with the pie cherries from our tree, so first she made a cherry turnover. She pitted all the cherries.

Then Sierra made her first cherry pie (with a little guidance from Grandma!).

This is me with my newest grandson Colton David VanderVeen, born May 27th. Makayla (2 years old) is also posing with us.

We visited an Amish community during my visit. This is my son David and his wife Cambria, with their daughter Makayla and son Colton outside the Amish grocery store.

Megan and her daddy at the top of the "Eiffel Tower" in Las Vegas. She begged her dad to come visit her at the same time I stopped there on my way back from Iowa.

Me and Megan at "Paris" in Las Vegas. It was great stopping to see her for a few days after the Iowa trip.

Colton David and his big sister Makayla. Double cuteness!

Taya mowing the lawn with her grandpa. She had to grab the willow branches every time they passed under the tree!

Bye! See you on the next round!

We finally have the photographer's pictures from the wedding. I selected a few for your enjoyment. This is Kim and Ryan just coming out of the Seattle Temple for the first time as husband and wife. Don't they look happy?!?!

Romancing on Temple Grounds. And it snowed just for the occasion!

The wedding party: Jennifer (Kim's only sister), KC, Casey, Kim, Ryan, Taya, Sierra, David (Ryan's brother) Russ, and Richard (Kim's brother).

Kim with flower girls Taya and Sierra. They are so happy to have a new aunt. They love Kim!

Ryan playing the piano for Kim at their reception. I love this picture.