Happy 4th of July! We spent another fun day celebrating up at the cabin. The activities seem to stay the same, the guests and the weather are the only things that seem to change. Last year was cold and rainy. This year, HOT HOT HOT. This year's guests? See the pic below: Oma & Opa, Uncle Dennis & Aunt Susan (visiting from Maryland), Aunt Sue, Uncle Dave, Grandma Inge, Grandma Tammy (visiting from Indiana) Brad, Jayne & Cohen, Gwen, Tim, Rylan & Reagan, and us! Mark, Abby, Nolan, & Heath joined us in the afternoon.
The kids decided that this year they would rather watch the parade than participate in it. They prefer to collect the candy rather than to throw it out :)
This year's most flamboyant parade participants...that bikini top was made out of candy necklaces!
Landon enjoyed his first 4th of July!
After the parade, we headed back to the cabin. Brad and Jayne brought a little pool for Cohen, so of course Payton, Brady, and Rylan took over. The hose water was FREEZING, but it actually felt pretty good compared to the outside temp. My mom said this is the first pool she ever remembered at the cabin, so I guess a few activities change.
A cabin day has to include a hike, so Oma, Opa, Susan, Dennis, Payton, and I conquered the nearby mountain. It was a little treacherous, but Payton did a great job. Maybe it was her fancy hiking shorts :)
Meanwhile, back at the cabin...there was some home run derby,
...some swinging...
...some bb gun shooting...(let's hear it for the girls!)
...and some fun family pics.
After multiple attempts, this was the best shot we could get.
And of course, we had to top off the evening with some fireworks!
Mom "smoking" a punk.
I'm a week or so behind in blogging, but here is a picture of Payton on her very first day of 2nd grade. I was already at work for the day, so Daddy did a great job of getting Payton dressed, ready to go, and photographed! Wes said that Payton was very brave and after figuring out where her new class line was, she didn't need her dad to stand with her anymore :). Payton has Mrs. K-I for her teacher. She started going to her last year for reading, so she already feels very comfortable and confident. Payton picked a Justin Bieber folder for her take home folder....awesome. We are very proud of Payton and can't believe we already have a seven year old 2nd grader!
