Independance Weekend

We don't celebrate the founding of the United States for just one day. No, it takes an entire weekend to get in all our favorite festivities.

We started out at the lake, relaxing and digging in the sand for the day. Then off to two family reunions on Sarah's side. One at a favorite park in Ohio...unfortunately the pool was closed because it was too cold. That's right. Too cold to swim on July 3rd. But we filled the time taking pictures of the girls in their matching pineapple rompers.

Well, we also played, ate, and visited with family.

This year that park had an extra bonus: dead trees were carved into extremely detailed wood sculptures. Really impressive work!

At the next reunion, the girls jumped in a bounce house, overdosed on all things glow stick, played with sparklers, and watched fireworks. The drive home from this party was great because we could watch firework displays happening all the way!

We got home very late that night...tired, tired girls slept in a very little bit on Independence Day. We whisked them off to Grandma and Grandpa's house to see Baby Catherine and the rest of Sarah's family for lunch. All the granddaughters were coordinating and cute in their festive Fourth of July gear. The cousin club is growing quickly...next year there will be two more red, white, and blue babies added to the gang!

After lunch we drove back to the lake to enjoy the afternoon with Tim's family.

That evening the lake neighbors put on a fabulous fireworks show for HOURS! They were going off continuously from every direction around the lake. The girls could not believe how lucky they were to witness so many fireworks!

Someday they'll know how lucky they are to live in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. A sincere thank you to all who have served our country protecting our freedom and the freedoms of others around the world.

Lake Life

Tim's aunt recently gifted her lake home to Tim's dad and we've all been graciously welcomed to take advantage of lake living whenever we want! It's been such a blessing for Tim's family. Last summer was our last summer enjoying Mema's pool.  Now we've been given another location for our water-happy girls to be with their extended family. 

Mommy took the girls to the lake after Miriam's last day of school to kick off our summer break. We unpacked the car, threw down a blanket, and enjoyed a picnic. It set the tone perfectly for the rest of our summer.

Relaxation.

Most hours of the day, you can find all three girls splashing in the water, playing at the neighborhood beach/park next door with the friends they've made throughout the summer, snacking, or following Aunt Shirley and Molly around on their daily inspection of the property. Miriam is a professional on the monkey bars now, Vivian is becoming more confident swimming without a life jacket, and Felicity is a sand chef...perpetually mixing up a batch of her "slurpy slop" at the beach.

Cookies from Aunt Shirley

We've had nearly perfect weather all summer.

And if all that weren't enough, one morning Mommy and the girls woke up to hot air balloons flying overhead. It was magical for them!

Our days spent at the lake have been filled with hours of cousins, Nana, Papa, Tim's sisters, and brother-in-law. This family time is something we cherish!

We've even pulled ourselves away from our little haven to explore nearby Battle Creek...just a very little bit. We visited Binder Park Zoo.

Played in the gardens near the river walk.

Eaten delicious hand-dipped ice cream.

You know, all the important parts of a summer.
 
So the real reason we're so very behind keeping the universe up-to-date with our lives...well, we've been "busy" lounging in the shade listening to little girls splashing and fighting and laughing in the water.