4th Celebrations

Another 4th of July has come and gone.  We had another great year with lots of pictures to sift through.  To start the day we went to the parade, ready with bags to hold candy and our traditional water balloons.

Miki, Troy, and Jill chasing candy

The kiddos getting soaked

more candy

Kenzie armed and ready with water balloons

For some reason cheerleaders have always been a favorite target.

Ready, aim, fire

Sammi

Grace and Miki

Sammi after the parade

Kaylon in his cool hamburger shirt

Miki, Jill, and Troy being a caterpillar in the sleeping bag

 After the parade we ate lunch, hung out at the carnival, and got ready for our annual BBQ- a 19 year tradition.  This year we had 48 people.

some of the kids playing outside

Kay BBQ-ing

 This is me and my niece.  She was born on my birthday.  We both bought the same 4th of July shirt without the other knowing... great minds think alike ;)

Because Sam's b-day is so close to the 4th we always have a cake or something for her.  This year we made red velvet cupcakes and put pop rocks candy on top of the frosting.  When we bit into them they popped in our mouths like fireworks.

Mik eating a cupcake

 After the BBQ we packed up and went down to the park to listen to the band while we waited for the fireworks show.

Samantha and Georgia

Mik

Troy

Whirlwind

This summer has felt like a whirlwind.  From swimming lessons, 4th of July celebrations, family visiting and daily adventures, it's no surprise that this summer has flown by.  Miki has officially become a fish.  These pictures are all of my fish in training, and really need no explanations.

At the end of the two week lessons all the kids had the chance to dive to the bottom of the pool for a pop.  Miki came up with a root beer

.

Father's Day

We have a tradition.  Not the one where we have to take pictures of feet every time someone has the camera, but the one that involves dinner.  On mother's day and father's day we like to drive down to Bluff to eat dinner.  It's a simple, fun family outing, and I don't have to cook.  On our way down for Kay's dinner we kept hearing camera noises.  These next three pictures are courtesy of our girls and their new found hobby.

Mik and Jill's feet

The road down to Bluff

Sammi

 Kay disappeared on Father's day, and this was where I finally found him... right where every father deserves to be on Father's day.  This hammock was actually his father's day gift about 14 years ago.

The girls were so excited to give him his presents.

Miki wanted to take a family picture in a dog pile.  I loved the idea, and so did Max.  I guess because it was a "dog pile" he figured he should be a part of it.

Because he didn't get enough of the turtle cheesecake from my mom's birthday, I made Kay another one.  I'm glad he was nice enough to share.

Shutter Bugs

We have a couple of new shutter bugs at our house.  Miki and Jill have adopted my old camera and take pictures all.  Day.  Long...

Miki

Jill

Jill photographing some flowers

...they do a good job. I like a lot of the pictures that they take. Here is just a small, very small, sampling of their photos.

Word Girl is very important in the life of a child

Sammi holding one of our kittens

Me

Kay

They've discovered sun flares :)

Me and Miki

Me and Jill

Jilly learning to sew

Me



Me, Miki and Marlee

Welcome Summer

Our summers begin with the celebration of my mom's birthday.  Would you believe this lady just turned 70!  By request her cake was a turtle cheesecake.

I love summers because that means I don't have to share my girls with the schools.  I'm off to a great start already, being that I have a secret "emirer".  The initials in red gave me clue to who it is :)



My secret emirer is too good to me.  She, or he, made my bed....

... and set up an umbrella on the couch in my bedroom.  This person knows me so well.  She, or he, knows this is my favorite spot to read, and left some of my favorite books as well; Junie B. Jones!

Summer's are great for wieny roasts.

They take the heat out of the kitchen, and a load off my back.

Miki soon found herself tired of holding the roasting stick while she waited for her dogs to cook, so she found an alternative method for holding on. 

Once we were done and ready to eat Chili was on the prowl.  She was very persistent in trying to get a taste of our dinner.