We don’t make it home often. Typically we get to visit only once a year, twice if we’re lucky. This year we’re planning to come home for Christmas and we snuck a short trip in over a long weekend in September.
This is my mom’s summer piano recital. Can you see the piano on the front porch? She has around 50 students! She made a nacho buffet for everyone so they could eat, relax and enjoy the nice summer evening. My mom is an incredible piano teacher because she is unbelievably talented AND she genuinely loves teaching music. She recently told me, “I never want to retire from teaching music, I just love it so much. Even after arthritis kicks in and I can’t use my hands to play I’ll still be able to teach.”
Grandma Michelle is making this world a better place one piano student at a time. She teaches more than just music skills; she provides sincere love, emotional support, and confidence building to students of every age.
I have no idea where Lucas and I will live when we have children but one selling point for living near our hometown is free piano lessons from the best teacher around. Also, this would mean I wouldn’t have to teach them (I’m an awful piano teacher)… win, win!
Same fish. Two different views. : )
The guys (Lucas, dad, brother and brother-in-law) fished until they couldn’t see anymore and caught a couple dozen bass. On the drive off the ranch they found and killed an impressively large rattle snake. Unfortunately they brought it home. It kept moving for a few hours…. so creepy. I don’t like snakes dead or alive.
Every time we come home my dad has a new cooking gadget. This time the gadget was a giant torch. It looked intimidating but made some delicious chicken. My dad ordered spices all the way from Jerusalem and he made what tasted like traditional chicken shawarma. Always a cooking adventure or some sort going on in the Jones house.
It wouldn’t be a trip home without visiting the Lullas. Their house feels like a second home to both Lucas and I. We’re so grateful for the time we get to spend at the Lulla Ranch with these wonderful people.
We also had a mini family reunion for the Jones family (first one with just our immediate family – see photos here) and spent a day on the river with Lucas’ parents (see photos here).