4th - BBQ and Jax

After a few hours of lake fun, we drove back over to the resort for a BBQ.  We knew Greg and Sharon would be there, but we didn't know they would be bringing a little kitten.

Sharon had found this little cutie in the woods.  Her grandson named it Jax.

Gaga had this little fishy toy so we gave it to Jax.  Awww!

The kids took turns fishing with Jon and playing with the kitty.  

You catch a little fish within 30 seconds of casting.  No patience required!

I feel so bad that my Mom and I are allergic to cats.  

I would totally get my kids a kitty!

Sara came for the BBQ and Howard and Lilly arrived later.  Sara, Lil, Jon, the kids, and I wanted to watch the fireworks.  The plan was to take the pontoon out and watch the fireworks from the lake.  Unfortunately, it was a quick trip.  We piled on, reversed out, and realized we couldn't get out of reverse!  We paddled back to shore and went to plan B.  We all jumped in the car and headed to the hospital parking lot to watch.  

From there, it was a series of hilarious events trying to get the perfect viewing spot (since they were shooting the fireworks from a new location this year): out of the car, turning the car around, bugs are too bad, back into the car, turn the car around again, can't see anything, the show has started?, leaving the parking lot, driving to two other locations, wait... the show hadn't started yet?, quick back to the hospital parking lot, too embarrassed to park next to those same people, let's park on the other side of the road.... finally perfect.... oooh...  ahhh... fireworks!

This night will now forever be known as the fireworks fiasco!  I think we've got it all figured out for next year though... :)

4th - Hot Doggin'

After the parade, we headed over to Grandpa Chip's for the day.  

Jon even got Jace to go on the hot dog.

Looks like he enjoyed it!

There's no arm twisting needed for these guys.  

They're starting to even like getting tipped (as long as it's not in the weeds!)

4th of July Parade

We kicked off week 4 of our vacation with the 4th of July.  Jon, Papa, the kids, and I watched the parade with our traditional crew in front of my Dad's old office. 

Getting candy is always a highlight...

Looks like Jace is over his fear of costumed characters.  

Dang, I can't use that excuse for not taking him to Disney World anymore!  :)

Cousin Cake Decorating

The girls decorated Laurie's birthday cake...

Adorable!

The boys were happy to help eat up the extra frosting!

It was the last summer for this float.  There was a leak so it was a 

little under-inflated, but the kids still made the most of it.

Jace really had fun with his Uncle Anthony this year!

There were a lot of jumps and flops off this float.  :)

Cousin Lake Float

This Costco float was a huge hit this year...

We even towed into the middle of the lake and used it as an island...

There was a lot of swimming back and forth to the boat...

P.S. It's a little more difficult for adults to swim up on the float.  I can be quite entertaining to watch!

Cousin Swim Photos

The cousins love their summer visit together.  They swim, they play, they swim some more!  

Jace was always the first kid in the water this summer whether it was off the dock or the boat...

The girls love the "cousin jump" where they stroll to the end of the dock 

and then one of them accidentally falls in taking the other girl with them.  :)

It was a little chilly out of the water!  lol!

MN Vacay - Week 3

Tues - free golf lessons, Brd errands and more Rafferty's pizza

Jace was obsessed with the Star Wars Lego app on his ipad this summer, but the real reason I snapped this picture is because Jace still loves to snuggle up with Papa in his chair.  It brings me back to when he was younger and he used to lay like this and have his bottle.  :)

Wed - library story hour to see my friend, Chelsie, and her mom, Linda, a quick visit to Penney and Bart's, John Wayne movie night "Rio Bravo", picked up Daddy at the airport!  :)

Thurs - cousin time on Serpent Lake!

Fri - cousin sleepover at Grandpa Chip's...

It was Jace's first sleepover so he was extra excited!

                                             

The kids watched a movie in the basement before bed.

Since Grandpa Chip and Connie were babysitting: Laurie, Anthony, Jon and I, along with Jon's cousin, Jenny, and her boyfriend checked out the new Brewery in town and did a little Pub crawl. Sara joined us later in the evening too.  I don't get out with adults much - it was so much fun!  

Sat - The only person who puked in the morning was Rylee (poor girl had too many late nights and too much fun, I think).  I picked the kids up right after I got the call, so we all had a relaxing day at resort and watched movies.  Jon still went and hung out with his family, but had dinner with us (kabobs!).

Sun - the kids were recharged for a day with the cousins...

That night we went to a BBQ with some of our college crew/Jon's hunting crew (Pablo and Matt Bahl and their families).  The highlights were playing with the Bahl's new baby girl, riding the four wheeler, water balloon fights, Jace unintentionally getting soaked by that water bottle trick on FB (he was not happy!), and a fireworks show in the driveway!

Mon - another lake day with the cousins, Laurie's birthday dinner at Rafferty's, cake and ice cream at the lake afterward