Hello July!

We had quite the first weekend of July. Logan had a 4-day and even though we didn't do too many things it seems like we did a lot, and it was fun!

Canada Day
July 1st we granted Rowan a wish that he's had for a long time, we went to Charlie's Safari! C.S. is an indoor play park of sorts. They've got half a dozen giant inflatable slides and bounce houses.
It's one of Rowan's most favorite places.

Last time we came Katie was a little small to really run amok
but not this time!

Rowan will shoot anything into a "basketball shoot" even blocks.

One more reason C.S. has earned Rowan's affection is the arcade. Katie enjoyed playing a bit but it was Rowan who really got into it.

> > >

This one is for Uncle Evan
and the other beavers in the family!

We love Charlie's Safari!!

After a good nap the kiddos got out and enjoyed our bit of warm weather playing some wet games in our yard.

Katie Katie little bucket lady

Home run!!

Forth

of

July!

We journeyed south for the 4th this year. Portland was also blessed with the lovely summer sun that weekend!

Just about every drawing cousin Wyatt did that day was accompanied with a little Katie scribble.


Later we headed over to my sister's in-law's house
for some food and fireworks.
She was nice enough to take a family picture for us.

Coco's Mom-in-law had some patriotic goldfish crackers for the kids. The little ones especially loved them!

These two crack me up!

After dinner we decided that the kids probably wouldn't last till dark and for my their sake (and ours, Logan had to work at 6 the next morning and I had an early OB appointment) we decided to bend the "rules" and do our sparklers and fireworks a bit early.

The uncles gathered the kids in the neighboring field

And the fun commenced!

Danika would start squealing whenever her sparkler started sparking, it was pretty funny!







Katie LOVED the sparklers!!

Rowan was a little nervous at first
but he got the hang of it in no time.

finally . . .

Let the show begin!

The pictures don't really do a good job showing how nice they were. Even though it was still light they were pretty cool. The kids were applauding most of them.

It got a little smokey

Cam is a good uncle

Garrett and Katie sort of lost interest before the end . . . sheesh, toddlers . . .

As soon as it was over Garrett was outta there! Showin off his bear crawl :)

I was snapping pictures of Logan tossing Katie when I got this one and said, "It looks like she's jumped off the roof!" which Rowan of course wanted to see and of course wanted to do also.

So here he is "jumping off the roof"

It was a great evening and a great 4th. Of course I can't celebrate the 4th and our freedom without a thought for those great men and women who have fought for that freedom and paid the ultimate price. We are indebted to them for their sacrifice.



I thank God that He has not only given us freedom in Jesus Christ but freedom in this great country. God bless America!