July 4th... Better Late Than Never...

We went to the lake for the 4th of July this year.... they always have two sets of fireworks that we can take the boat to and watch from the water!  Plus, we love to go hang out with Mimi and Pop Pop and the family!!!!!

As usual, there's no shortage of yummy stuff to eat!

Sam said he was NOT going to smile... I think he had bitten his tounge and the popsicle was "medicine."

Relaxing a little between swims... Sam may be a little less vocal (ok, A LOT less vocal) about things, but he loves to be close, and he loves his family!!!

Emma didn't understand why we needed a rest...

Morning iPad time...

Good thing we have a few now!!!!

Can we go swim in the lake now? How about now? Can we now?

On our way to the fireworks... yep.... I've STILL got it!!!! I can put a baby out... but Emma feels she should be held ALL the time!!!!! ;-) So somebody had to do it!!!!

The fireworks from the boat... they weren't great pics - I took the tripod and everything!!! Hahaha!!!! The boat wouldn't sit still!!!!! ;-)

When we got home, we blazed through SIX boxes of sparklers!!!

Obviously, I made them take a picture before they could start, and cooperation was at a minimum...

Jake at 90 mph... Sam, not so sure about the burning sparkler and keeping his distance... he burned his hand pretty bad last year, so he wasn't so into them this year!?

Jake had no problems! He did all the sparklers but just a few!!!

Being the 'mean' parents we are, we made Sam do one just to show him that they won't hurt him!!!

Yep... it looked like we were torturing him!

But he got OK enough to smile for me! I call that a win!

And that was our 4th of July - better late than never!!!! ;-)

Happy Father's Day!

And it was... for everyone!!!! We went to the lake, and had a fun family day! We just don't get enough of those!!!!! No more details necessary...  I'll move onto the pictures!!!!

Jake tried on Uncle Bo's new shorts.... he thought they were a touch big!?

Then they couldn't WAIT to go swimming!!! Problem: I didn't bring swim suits... NO PROBLEM... undies work JUST FINE!!!!

I just happen to have their tubes in the truck from our many adventures to the pool!

Yep... Jake jumped right in!

Sam eased in.... but he WANTED to swim!!! Last year, we had to MAKE him swim in the lake!!!

Jack couldn't help swimming (and rescuing everyone that splashed) too!!!!

The baby geese and their mommy came by for a visit too!

Tubing, of course!!! Jake LOVED it.... Sam wouldn't do it (shocker...), but I didn't force him this time!!!

He enjoyed the boat, although he only likes it to go slow..... I tried to explain that it's way too hot to go slow!!! And Pop Pop reminded him that he rides with me all the time and doesn't think THAT'S scary!?!?

Back to the tube...

Oops... they fell off!!!!

 It didn't phase Jake, though! He LOVED it!!!

Jack wasn't a fan of his daddy being in the water without him...

 But he wasn't a fan of the boat driving away without him either!!! hahahaha!!!!!

Sam was a good driver...

Jake loves the lake!

And what family function isn't complete without the pants down going teetee picture???

I LOVE that they both love the water!!!

When we weren't in the boat, this was Jake.... on repeat!!!!

Then it was time to go in and eat...

And of course Emma was there.... and we HAD to get some pictures of her in her pretty dresses!!!!

Happy Father's Day to BJ, Daddy, Dad2 and Bo.... I am so incredibly blessed by all of them!!!!!

Easter

I love Easter! Easter means Spring will 'officially' be here (there's always ONE last cold snap at Easter... regardless of when Easter is), and it is a wonderful celebration that our Lord is ALIVE!!! I really try to impress that upon the kids... I don't want them to immediately think of the Easter Bunny when they think of Easter!  That is often difficult in a society that the Easter Bunny is almost as popular as Santa Clause!!!!

BUT.... the Easter Bunny DOES pay us a visit... don't you worry!!!!! This year, Sam was at the lake, and Jake was at home (we drove out to the lake for a family day on the day - Sam spent the night before! ;)  So the Bunny dropped off a Pillow Pet for each boy where they woke up... (not pictured! :)

Then, after lunch, the Easter Bunny hopped around and hid eggs and left baskets when the boys weren't looking... sneaky bunny....

Then onto the egg hunt...

This picture was TORTURE!!!!

And they literally RACED until they found all the eggs!

Enjoying their spoils...

And the best part was that mommy let him take off his button up shirt after pictures!!!

How blessed we are to celebrate such a fun holiday... and the Resurrection of Jesus, who is ALIVE and will live forever!!!!