Fire in the Hole!!

We had a lovely 4th of July weekend..... Carol was down for her 'summer visit' and we hung out at the city pool and with our friends, the Gendusas, for a good bit of the holiday. We started the celebration with our favorite 4th of July meal -- crab legs (cheap this year) and homemade lemonade! Yummy!!!

Saturday night, we ventured to a little town about 30 minutes North to attend their hometown --- FREE --- Fourth of July celebration that the kids and I found last year when Mike was at a Nascar race. The festival is very nice --- crafts, bounce houses, "fair food" and one of the best fireworks displays. The kids enjoyed the snow cones and goodies that Amy and I had packed --- including glowsticks and hair glitter. It was a hit with the kids, the adults and the grandparents! Too bad Avery's make-up I did at home didn't survive --- she looked like a member of KISS by the time the fireworks were done.

We ended the weekend with a dip in Ed & Amy's pool Sunday afternoon..... as always, a good time was had by all. Mike, however, is a little sore from launching the kids in the pool --- we are renting him out for parties now to pay for his renewed golf habit!!

Happy Independence Day!!

Pictures of Americana

Land of the Free, home of the Brave. In a few days we will celebrate our independence and while things are not perfect with our country ---- don't get me started ---- I feel blessed that I live in a Land where I can gather together with family and friends to celebrate the simple moments of life.

Maybe this all sounds cheesy to the "outsiders", but who cares. Spending time at Mom & Dads, the farm and just visiting with family renews us to venture back to the corporate world we were desperately seeking refuge from in the first place.

There were many "firsts" this visit...
- John's first Father's Day
- The kids first time fishing
- The kids first time picking raspberries
- The first time Oliver went swimming in a pool
- The kids first visit to "the Magic Wand" ice cream parlor
- The unvealing of the restored John Deere tractor
- Cole's first time on a horse

It was such a nice visit and I look forward to many more!

Follow me, follow me...

Do you remember the song? "Follow me, follow me to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. There's so much here to see and do if you follow me!". A visit to the zoo has become a tradition of sorts on our journeys home, assuming the weather permits. The FW Zoo has been consistently rated as one of the top children's zoos in the country and recently opened the new African Journey.

We had a large group with us, with both sides of the family attending: Beth, Christine, Gracie, Nikki, John, Amber, Oliver, Mom & Dad and of course our crew. It was a very nice morning and the kids really enjoyed the new exhibits and spending time with their cousins.

Sun-bathing Beauties!!!

We decided to venture home to Indiana during some warmer months this year and settled on Father's Day weekend. Our first full day home was spent with Mike's family at Bruce & Beth's wonderful lake cottage.

We had a wonderful day --- mid 80s and a nice steady breeze. All the girls enjoyed the pier and the laughter of the little kids that seemed to drawn to the water. With Avery's encouragement, I braved the frigid lake which ended up being pretty refreshing!!

Alex and Christine were kind enough to take our speed demons on a jet-ski ride, which of course was a big hit.

The kids could not stop talking about the lake and seeing Gracie Jane! It was a picture perfect day...

Schools Out for Summer!!!

WOW!!! Has it really only been 2 weeks since school has been out? Seems longer, and I'm not even home with the kids all day (HA!). We started swim lessons the last week of school --- Avery and Cole with an instructur every night, four days a week. The kids love it and have learned alot.

It has made days like today (100 degrees here) all the more enjoyable as we can enjoy the pool a little easier, although a cautious eye is always on them --- especially Cole 'I think I'm a fish' Hayes!

We had a lovely afternoon with our friends, Amy & Ed, and their kids: Nathan (6), Hannah (6) and Sarah Ann (5).... the kids (young and old) enjoyed the relief from the hot, humid temperatures.

We capped off the day with a fashion show from Cole & Avery --- note Cole's big boy underpants complete with skull & crossbones. Avery enjoyed her newly painted blue nails. Too cute.

Hope you all are enjoying summer too!!!