Summer Sprints...

It has been a busy few weeks for us in the Ward family! Currently, three of us are finally home for the summer and getting into a summer groove.

Ken has been in China for the last several weeks and has one more week to go before he comes home. We miss him terribly and we have kept somewhat busy to pass the time. Not a lot of picture taking on this trip as he is trying to accomplish a great deal of work so he does not have to go back there.

Last Saturday he sent me this picture of himself in front of a 5 story marketplace near Shenzhen.

Shopping in China

He did not enjoy the fact that he was alone or the stifling discomfort of the 110 degree heat! He said the venue had booth after booth, floor after floor of the same stuff. It was hot and everyone touched him because they wanted him to spend money at their booth. He decided rather quickly it was not an experience he would ever repeat! I'm so thankful he got back to his room safe and unharmed.

View from his hotel.


While Ken has been gone, we have been in Ohio visiting. It had been a year since we had been back and it was so nice to see family. It seems like we go days...even months without seeing a familiar face where we live now. Sad that we can still say that after living in Connecticut two years. The fact of the matter is that people are just too busy to invest in the lives of others, especially newcomers. 

My parents are doing very well. My dad still works at his printing business and my mom works from home and does all of the financials. The whole family got together for Sunday dinner and I finally managed to get a picture with my brother AND sister. This picture has not happened in probably close to 20 years. 

Lisa, Scott, Debbie

The kids, my niece(Amber) and I made our annual trip to Cedar Point. We had a hot day and short wait times! Josh announced that since he was 9 inches taller this year the rides did not seem so big to him! I laughed so hard at his innocent revelation!

Amber, Josh, Em, Me

The second part of our trip we stayed with Ken's parents. They are both doing well and keeping busy with Quinn, our (soon to be 8 years old) nephew. Ken's dad still plays golf once a week and Ken's mom enjoys her gardening and politics. Their town has a beautiful pool complex that we got to swim in. 

Trying to scoot across Lily pads!

This completes my update on the last few weeks of our summer! Now that we are home we will enjoy the Olympics, play with Buddy, dive into summer reading, sleep in AND get organized for eleventh grade and seventh grade this school year!