happy birthday elise!

Our sweet Elise is FOUR!

We had her birthday party at the lake on Sunday.  She kept saying "Everybody that loves me is coming to my party!"  She even informed Grandpa he was invited to the party - at his own house.  

My mom and dad got a new toy.  

And Elise had to show off her ski trainer skills.  

She actually fell off in the middle of the lake for the first time ever. 

She climbed right back on and waved at her panicked mother who ran out on the dock to swim to her.  Fancy pants. 

Grandpa & Grandma Great even came out.  

She's a little spoiled.  She got lots of good stuff for her birthday. 

Today (her actual birthday) we made "birthday pizza" for dinner and then went out for ice cream.  And then she ran in the sprinkers.  Pretty good day for a four year old.  

We tried out a new toy - rocket balloons. 

Nick was blowing them up and Elise says "Daddy isn't this a two person job?"

Thank you everyone who loves Elise for a really fun birthday!

phone dump

Last Saturday we had Nick's company picnic.  They rent out an entire ballpark and AJs fun center accross the street and you can do everything for free.  Pretty cool.  Elise and Nicolynn are the best little buddies (we like her Mom and Dad a lot too).  Nicolynn likes to hold hands. 

.

My mom said her mom liked fishing so she should try it.  

They caught one!

This is what a busy day at the lake will get you. 

Baby Sister has a hat for the hospital.  

Want a good laugh?  

Just picture a very pregnant lady getting in and out of a kayak.  

You're welcome.  

the (actual) fourth of july

On the morning of the fourth, the Green Lake Assosiation has a pancake breakfast and parade.  

Anyone at all can be in the parade.  Including us - who show up 5 minutes before it starts with a bag of candy and a festively decorated golf cart and sneakily merge into the lineup.   

She could not be cuter.  Oh my goodness. 

Now that is just an impressive parade.  Best for miles around. 

 Like two miles. 

That would be a "science experiement" balloon my mom bought off Zulily.  Ya know, to learn that hot air rises and will blow up a giant balloon.  It mostly provided us with enough, um, innuendo and penis jokes for the whole afternoon.  I never said we were classy people.  

Elise was pretty tired from her 11pm bedtime the night before.  She asked Grandpa to snuggle with her on the swing while she ate her popcicle.  Seriously the sweetest. 

Grandma & Grandpa Goote came out for the afternoon too.  

 Erika and Steve came up from Chicago.  Steve is the nicest - Elise brought him this book and wanted him to read it.  She looked super sad when I suggested I read it instead - so Steve read every word of the Berenstein Bears and the Bad Habit.  Heart. Of. Gold.  Also - these two cuties are getting married in a few weeks!

Never lacking someone to play with her. 

I'm betting Erika was talking to her mom.  Hi Robin!

That would be Elise bossing people around with a stick. 

The newest yard game -- Molkky.  Apparently it's all the rage in Sweden.  

It involves a little too much math for me.  But these people love it. 

Poor Elise is tossed around by her daddy all day. 

Except she totally loves it. 

Pretend the princess panties are a bathing suit.  

And of course, more potato gun.  

the fourth (technically third) of july

I vowed to take a million pictures this weekend to make up for my lack of pictures/blogging.  I'm sorry.  Apparently I've left a lot of people hanging.   

This one's for you, Grandpa & Grandma Alligator.  :-)

This post covers our entire day - the third.  

The fourth was just as fun and cute -- I'll get started on that post next.  It involved a pancake breakfast, a parade, and lots and lots of fun.   And I promise it won't take ten days for me to post it.

Lauren and Carl came for five days.  They also brought their TWO (!!!!!) apple-sized fetuses with them .   YAY!  Three more Kloostra babies by Christmas.  

Lauren made puppy chow.  Elise approves. Seriously.  

We walked to Maria's for dinner.  And when I say we, I mean these people walking in the picture.   I am seven and half months pregnant and rode the festively decorated golf cart.  Elise makes herself at home with their crayons, chocolate milk, and ice cream.  We're regulars at this place. 

Her shirt says "this is the life".  I'll say.  At this point we may never leave.  

"look!! I found this teensy tinsy ant!!"

Ready for some fireworks. 

Family picture.  Sister is the size of a head of cabbage and weighs over three pounds!

This thing of beauty just needs documenting.  My mom's yard should be featured in a Better Homes and Garden's spread.  Seriously.  

That would be a homemade potato gun.  Powered by Aqua Net.  For real. 

Everyone on the boat!  Elise was SO excited for fireworks.  

Happy fourth everyone!  Day two at the Lake is coming....