A day at the Lake

After we left the Safari park, the plan was to go to the beach hang out and cook out and eat dinner there. It was an absolutely perfect afternoon! Perfect temp, there was a slight breeze we found a spot and were able to cookout right where we were swimming and a parking spot right there as well. We stayed until after 7PM we just didn't want to leave.My handsome hubby playing football with JasonNatalie was making sand angels:)Just crawling around and digging holes was great fun!Yuck, doesn't look fun to me, but Natalie was loving it!Ethan just played like this forever, so content, so unlike him I had to get a shot.We haven't been to this beach since I was pg with Elena, this was new to us so the kids had to check it out. They all got in line, but Natalie got scared and wouldn't go up the ladder.Ethan comes down first. WheeeeElena wanted to go down 100 times!
It was a perfect day. I am so glad we got out and got up to the lake. Since we do the private pool, we don't go to the lake much but you gotta go at least once a summer! So glad we did!

African Safari Park

Every couple years our Aunt Sandy gives us passes to check out the African Wildlife Safari Park. This is always a treat as you drive through and the animals come up to you. You can feed them and it is quite an experience for the kids. They have more fun each time we go. There were lots of big animals this time around and they were quite friendly. Bill fell in love with this one. So much he had to give him a smootch!
Elena loved the giraffes and zebras the best, well and the baby deer too!

These were a little scary to us. They are African Watusi(sp) Those antlers look like they could do some damage. We got a little nervous when they got close to our car.
They came right at us! Just missed banging into our car. They kind of rock their heads back and forth. Yikes. Miss Elena watching intently.

Jason kicking back in the back seat. Safe from the slobbering animals.
Natalie had the best seat in the house for some of the tour. She just kept yelling out to the animals."Hi Deer! ,Hi Zebras!, Hi Camels!"
Our car was a disaster when we were done! Full of dirt and slobber. We were able to watch the warthog races while we were there also. That was a first. The camel and pony rides were on break while we were there though, but other than that it was a great day.

Family Reunion / Cousin Ernie's Wedding

This year on the 4th Sunday in July we got together with my grandma's side of the family as we do every year. This year it was at a new place and the kids had a ball! There was a huge park to play at and Both Grandpa G and Great Grandpa W took them over to play. They received fishing poles for Christmas and this was the first time they got to get them out and use them. Unfortunetly they didn't catch anything that day, but it was still fun and nice to see everyone.
The weekend before the reunion we got together for my cousin Ernie's wedding. There was quite a turnout for this one as we all were shocked this really happened:) Here is the happy couple. Here is my Grandma. She looked so nice.

My sweet, crazy little family.My sister Kristi (Aunt Kristi to the kids) and Ethan. They were buddies during the reception. Ethan was using her digital camera taking pics of everyone. He then turned into the official photographer and used all the cameras on the tables taking pictures of everyone. Kept him busy and everyone thought he was so funny.Grandpa (my dad) Ethan, Kristi and Pam in line to get some food!Grandpa and his girls.Tearing up the dance floor. Pam and Ernie

We all had a great time that night. The kids especially. Couldn't get them out on the dance floor though. They dance all the time at home, but they wouldn't do it there. I kept asking Bill who's kids they were, because my kids love to boogy! Fun day, so glad that Ernie and Trish tied the knot and are so happy. That is great to see.

Family Camping Trip

Just as in years past, our family and the rest of Bill's family all go camping over the 4th of July weekend. This year we found a new campground not far from home that worked out great! Except for the fact that it POURED the first day we arrived and our campsite was a mud pit, it was a great time. We all rented campers right by each other and each family had a night to make dinner for everyone, which of course means lots of GOOD FOOD! There was a nice indoor pool that we were in everyday. Miss Natalie is becoming quite the little fish. She has learned to kick her legs and move her arms in her floaty swim suit. She did such a good job. The kids played games and we all caught up. Especially around the fire at night. So wish I had the camera out when the big marshmallow fight broke out. That would be one for the scrapbook!

Someone in the neighborhood let off a fireworks show so the kids saw some fireworks.

They had a hay ride each day that went around the camp ground which was fun.
Oh and I forgot to mention our favorite part. Karaoke! It is a tradition on camp trips, weddings etc that we sing karaoke. I was quite surprised when our kids got up during the kids time. Ethan and Stephen sang 2 songs and what really surprised me was Jason! He got up there on his own and belted out a tune. He did a great job! The fam spent most of the night singing songs. What a great way to end the weekend.

Where do I Begin? T-ball!

Last time I was able to blog was JUNE! Here it is August WOW. We have had a different summer for us. But we have had fun nonetheless. I will start my back tracking with T-ball. Ethan was ready to move up to the next level, but I kept him in T-ball one more year because him and Elena could be on the same team. It worked out since after his tooth incident he only was allowed to bat. Elena really got into it. I was glad to see this. She sometimes will jump into something and then quit. I told her she could choose not to play next year, but she had to play the season out. She was sad when they had their last game. They each got a ribbon with their name and team on it. She was so proud, she wore it to VBS the next day and kept it on the whole day showing it to everyone! It was great. Natalie didn't like having to sit still during the games , but she loved that someone usually had an extra treat for her at the end of the game!