This weekend was a great array of

rest, celebration, relaxation and playing hard.
The perfect combo!

Mommy didn't do very well capturing
all of our great adventures this weekend,
but here are the pics from the 4th of July.

We headed down to Noni and Papa's
for our usual after-church food and respite.

Both Aunties were able to join (and spoil us)

as well as some very entertaining (and energy-zapping)
slip and slide action!

I was having trouble making it all the way down,
so daddy came up with the plan to
THROW me at the top to help me pick up speed.

Well... it works!
(Although, mommy could hardly stomach watching :)

Hannah jumped right in and was at my heels the whole time.

She didn't mind the "throwing", but was also
perfectly content scoot/crawlin' all the way down too.

as if that wasn't enough,
after nap-time Drew and I ran ourselves ragged
jumping in/out of Noni's pool and wrestling.
Don't know how, but somehow we got through
the whole ordeal without any hurt feelings...
a miraculous thing!

We then headed back to Fort and got ready
to head to our first ever fireworks display!

We had about 1 1/2 hours to "fill",
as we waited for the sky to darken...

so we picked flowers,

climbed in/out of Brian's truck...

and even dodged a few raindrops.

Peyton's mommy was prepared and brought snacks,
that they so graciously shared!
(what better way to kill some time?)

and then, finally...the moment we were gearing up for!
Fireworks!

We all "took our places"



(which really only lasted about 5 minutes
and then it was move to the next spot,
followed by the next spot, followed by....

you get the idea - not a lot of sitting still
for the first 1/2 of the show!)

Jackson was his usual laid-back self...

and Peyton, co-commentator with Hannah bear!



but all in all, great 1st-time firework experience!
So much for worrying about Hannah-bear liking the show!
From the first to the last firework,
her expression was nothing but smiles

followed by lots of commentary!
("that one was a cool one, Peyton")

Already planning for next year!

Show-time

Mommy and her friends thought that

Toy Story3 sounded like a fun adventure to

go on with my best buds!


(Drew was able to make it too!)

I had NO IDEA what a movie theatre was...

but the anticipation built as we walked in.

we were all beaming with smiles of excitement.
Even lil-Jackson was grinning ear to ear.

we got our treats...


we found our seats -

and it was show-time!

Thanks Mommy for the special day!

swimming debut

Being the big brother that I am,
(and the amount of excitement that was bubbling over inside)
I offered to go first for swim lessons this morning...
to show Hannah "how it's done".

Mommy was really impressed with the skills
that I carried over from last year.

Hannah watched in awe/anticipation...

that is until she needed to be distracted a bit
until it was her turn.

despite Mommy's uncertainty of whether or not Hannah would actually participate, Hannah went right to Dani's arms

and away she went!

blowing bubbles,
putting her face in and floating/kicking!

About the only thing she really buckled her knees at
was jumping in off the edge of the pool.

Not too shabby Hannah-bear!

Elijah...well, he was eagerly lookin-in
on what the future had in store for him.

figured he probably should work on his walking skills
before any kind of swimming skills...

our beautiful friend

Yesterday mommy surprised us with the news

that we were going to see a special friend
that we haven't seen in a while,
come over and play with us.

She was right!



Sweet Tess came to play for a couple hours
while her mommy took her older brothers to a movie.

we frolicked in the yard....found backyard adventures...

and even had a little playhouse fun!

and snack time (of course)!

Thanks "sweetie pie" (my chosen reference to her today)
for coming to play!

Father's Day

Last night we tied up Father's Day by meeting
Papa Tom and the rest of the family for some
yummy sweet potato fries and pizza...

followed by a nice walk downtown Lake Geneva

for some yummy-nummy ice cream!

Daddy wasn't feeling well today,
so we don't have any great photos to share with you from today,
but we are sooooooooooo grateful for all the ways
daddy loves and works hard to provide for us,
and to be with us!

Thank you daddy for loving us
so generously and unconditionally!

We love you too!