the fourth [in a LOT of pictures]

We had the best weekend. 

We basically moved to the lake for five days.  Really - we were planning to stay just one night.  I think we ended up there for three.   It was so nice and super fun. 

Green Lake did their fireworks on the third.   Everyone had lanterns that we set off before the fireworks -- just like Tangled.   Elise thought it was super cool.  It WAS. 

On the fourth we woke up and drove our awesome golf cart to the neighborhood pancake breakfast.  We decked it out for the parade afterwards.  And because we like to be festive.

Elise is waiting for the parade to start and practicing throwing candy. 

We took a lot of boat rides.

Grandpa is so nice and built a LOT of sandcastles.

Oh hey cutiepants.

She thought she needed these goggles to "help me see underwater" - she doesn't really go under...

We had such a fun weekend. 
Thanks for letting our little tornado invade your house, Mom & Dad.  
Sorry we drank all your beer.  

our cousin jack

So before I post some Fourth of July pictures I should get these up.  

Last weekend my cousin Dave and his wife Abby came with their little boy Jack.  

He is almost the same age as Elise and they had SO much fun. 

They played and played.  Elise was quite the show-off.  

This was Jacks face the whole time.  

We're pretty sure he was having fun on the inside. 

SO cute.  We hope to see you guys again before another six years passes.  ;-)

"these are all my cousins" [a trip to joplin]

Here's a little update for ya. 

Lauren says I haven't posted in awhile.  Life is busy these days!

So I'm doing this whole post from my phone while I sit by the lake.  

Seriously I'm so busy.    :)

Last week we drove to Joplin to see my auntie, cousins, and their kids.  Including Elise, there were 10 kids under the age of 7 and two sets of twins.  It was very peaceful and relaxing..... well maybe not that - but it sure was FUN.  

Here's Elle and Elise and Lola.  Or Lola and Elise and Elle.  Not sure... Sorry Stacy.  

Elise had her first sqeez-it.  She had no interest in participating in the "cheers!" because she was too busy sucking down the kool-aid. 

I wish I had a giant tree for a tire swing.   And look at sweet Maddie pushing Elise on the swing.  Seriously the nicest sweetest little 7 year old around.  

I think this is all the cousins.  I think.  

My mom brought a piñata for all the kids.  It was so fun, although we need to work on Elise's piñata skills.  It was a little pathetic. 

My cousin Pete was so nice to Elise.  Thanks Petey!  

Here's Pete swinging with Elise and cute William.  

Elise lounged around in the mornings at the hotel. 

They are cute.  :-)

Elise would tell everyone that "these are all my cousins!"   She had so much fun.  Thanks for such a fun time guys!! 

friday phone dump

We've been keeping busy! It is definitely summer around here.  Elise is getting fewer naps these days because we are just having too much fun.  It catches up with her though and she ends up in bed by 7pm.

We've been spending our days playing at the lake with some friends...

Playing with our own shadows...

And living it up at the carnival where Great Grandma lives. 
This kid was in heaven - cotton candy, watermelon, and ice cream.  She even got her own little can of pop.  Lucky. 

This week we went swimming with some friends.  Elise had the best time and swam for about three hours straight.  She would swim (with her swimmies) from one end of the pool to the other, climb out, run around, and do it again. 

She was dead asleep 5 minutes after we got in the car. 
She didn't even wake up when we got home so I left her sleeping in there for over half an hour.  I finally went to wake her up - and she's still snoring. I think she gets that from her daddy.  

flip flops