We've been praying for rain, waiting for a break from the heat, just like everyone else. But we've also been enjoying the wonderfully fun summer that's here! Since my last article we've been enjoying the Village Band concerts at Main Plaza, riding rides and playing at the water park at Fiesta Texas, and spending almost every evening going on bike rides. Jenny and I also attended the Texas Professional Photographers annual summer conference in Kerrville, walking away with lots of great ideas and information. We also attended Nikolaj's third birthday party, complete with the reptile lady who introduced us to a tortoise, geckos, a snake, and even hissing cockroaches! And we made the drive down to Orange Grove to make an appearance at my family's annual reunion, which took place at the volunteer fire department (so cool for Ben!). And we also had a great time at Madison's fourth birthday party, where the kids not only got to go on a treasure hunt and break apart a pinata, but also got to go swimming!

"Wake the neighbors! Get the word out! Come on! Crank up the music, climb a mountain and shout! This is life we've been given, made to be lived out! So la, la, la, la, live out loud!" --Steven Curtis Chapman, from Live Out Loud