4th of July 2013

We celebrated the 4th of July for about 3 or 4 days.  We went to Aunt Des and Uncle Mike's the weekend before for what used to be called the Bean Supper.  Since Jackson goes to sleep so early and it's nice to have a place to escape the heat, we just watch the fireworks from the backyard.  This was the first year that Ellie actually liked/paid attention to any fireworks.  She mostly enjoyed following Sadie around and jumping in the bounce house and trampoline.  Jackson was asleep an hour after we got there!!

 Ellie and Grandma

 Watching the fireworks with all the kids!

 After Ellie went to sleep, Kyle and I got to hang out with some of our adult friends!  Woo hoo!

Ellie wasn't feeling too great on the actual 4th, but we did go to the park and did some of the fun activities they had going on there.  

We fed the ducks.

Ellie posed in front of the ponies, but wouldn't actually ride them.

Played in the park.

 Did some crafts.

Ellie wouldn't ride, but Jackson did!!!

Jackson looks about 18 months here, not 10!

Ellie discovered the tire swing and loved it!  It was one of my favorites, too!  Now I get dizzy just watching her.

 We took the kids swimming, but Ellie didn't even want to do that.  Poor thing.  

(Took her to the doctor the next morning.  She had an adenovirus and croup.  Yuck.)

 The day after the 4th, Ellie was feeling a little better, so we popped the fireworks we had from the night before.  She's very brave!  She loved throwing the poppers and doing the sparklers.

Happy 4th of July!  

Father's Day 2013

Ellie and I had fun putting together Kyle's Father's Day gift this year.  I interviewed Ellie about Kyle (really just expecting her to be silly or say, "I don't know," etc.), but she actually did really well!  I started taping her halfway through because I knew that Kyle wouldn't believe she came up with these answers so quickly on her own.  (And he didn't until he watched the video!)

I read the sentences to Ellie and had her finish them.  Everything underlined is what she said.

We also put together a scavenger hunt.  Kyle found this basket of goodies at the end.

The first clue we handed him read:

We know you like toffee

so we got you a _____

You can find your next clue

where we hang the Christmas wreath.

There he found:

You like to play this

and have a heyday

But before you tee off

you eat a ______.

(Kyle always eats a payday on the golf course!)

 In his golf bag he found this:

You may be a white boy

who's too short to dunk

But in mommy's eyes

you'll always be her _____ _____!

 On the basketball goal he found:

Out in this area

we've had lots of hoppers

They ate our strawberries

so they might eat your _______!

 In the garden he found:

You're such a great daddy

A real king of kings

So we got you a few of your favorite things.

You can find them on the table

where you USED to shoot pool,

Just watch out for baby puke, pee, poop, and drool!

(Kyle's game room is officially a play room w/ a pool table in it!)

 And there's where he got his basket of goodies!

After church and lunch, we went to Grandpa's house to swim.  Papa Clint came over, too!

 LOVE these next two pics!

 Jackson is just kicked back enjoying life!

 Ellie's first time to see a rainbow.

 Ellie and Jackson with their grandpas.

Daddy, Jackson, and Grandpa

Grandpa with his grandkids!

Happy Father's Day 2013!