Happy Independance Day

4th of July is one of those holidays that I really like to celebrate. When I celebrate, food is a big part of it. Maybe because good food makes me happy. It makes me happy to see others enjoying good, fun food. This year I had my sister, Dorias, visiting. She enjoys celebrating just like I do, so it was very nice to have her here to help me make the good food and to also make t-shirts with the kids and decorate nails. It is so much easier to celebrate a holiday with another adult who enjoys celebrating the same way.

We started our 4th of July celebration out by heading to the gym. Yes, we have to get in 4 workouts a week, so we needed to do one that day as well. We headed to a Body Pump class. The instructor had the workout with all American songs and freedom themes. It was really cool. And hard work.

 After that we came home and made treats. At supper time we headed over to Troy and Becky's house to have a pool party and supper. We sat around and swam and enjoyed one another's company. When Troy and Becky invited us over, i declined because I knew Dorias and her twins were coming. And then Michael and Karen showed up. Troy and Becky assured us they didn't mine if ALL of us showed up. I really hope they meant it because there were a lot of us. The also had invited Bryce and Katie over with a few other friends. It was a great evening finished off with fireworks.

 And now you have a whole mass of pictures to enjoy. Lots of swimming pictures, lots of treats pictures, and lots and lots of fun!

This is my niece, Megan. Isn't she adorable?

Yes, even I eat the yummy food.

Taneal, Audrey, and Camie enjoying the parfaits.

I love how Gavin has no problem jumping into the pool. Check out how he has his eyes closed right before he goes under. Smart boy!

Super yummy sugar cookies.

Jell-o parfaits. Homemade whipped cream and festive sprinkles.

Michael and Megan enjoying the wait for the fireworks show.

I asked my SIL, Karen if I could get a picture of her enjoying herself so I could text it to my mom and let her know what she was missing out on.

Several of the kiddos waiting for the fireworks show.

Gavin couldn't wait. It was a long day.

These pictures aren't really in order. This is a picture of the kiddos as we were walking into the gym Taneal didn't want to be in the picture because she hadn't really gotten ready for the day. Camie stayed home.

Bonnie's cute festive nails.

This is a little treat I made for the folks at Evan's work. It is white chocolate popcorn with sprinkles and m&m's.

I thought I would try something new and made meringue cookies. They were fun to make and yummy to eat, but super sweet so I made way too many.

Some of the shirts we made for the kids.

Michael, Karen, and Megan. Another one of those pictures I sent to my mom to show her what she was missing out on.

Three of us together for the 4th.

Beach Time

This last week was so much fun. It zoomed by so stinkin fast!

Monday, my sister came to visit. We played, played some more, and then played even more. She stayed through Friday, and it seemed like she had only been here a day!

While she was here, my little brother, Michael called. He mentioned he was in the car driving home from Indiana. I was having so much fun with my sister that I couldn't contain it and I said he ought to just keep on driving and come here and play with us.

Guess what he did?!?!?! Just as I suggested. He kept on driving and came here to visit. What a double treat! Both my brother and sister from out-of-town to visit. I was in heaven. And Michael brought his wife and sweet little 2 year-old, Megan, with him. It was fun. Gavin played with Megan, Danielle, Camie and Spencer played with my sister's twins.

So, I am doing that summer of Seals competition again this year. My sister is on my team. Part of the competition is that you have to work out 4 times a week, minimum of a 30 minute work-out. Only one work-out per day counts. So, we went to the gym together. She is a YMCA member like me, so it worked out perfect. Monday we did the evening swim class together, Wednesday we did the Body Pump class together. Thursday Michael was here, so we all went and did Pilate's together. Yeah, that was awesome! Michael was about the only guy in a room full of women stretching and twisting all over the place. And he kept up! I was impressed.

After we got home from the Pilate's class, Karen (Michael's wife that is 7 months pregnant) suggested maybe we head to the beach. I thought it over, thought about an evening at the beach instead of full afternoon sun. I had a great night sleep the night before. Plenty of adults going. Nothing planned. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

So, we headed to the beach. Of course I forgot my camera as I was quickly loading the car. But my sister had hers so I snapped a few of my kiddos.

Isn't Danielle gorgeous? And look at how much fun she is having!

Gavin LOVED the water. I took him out into the waves and he kept saying over and over and over, "Water, water. Water, water." So cute! He loved playing in the sand, running from me through the shallow water, and splashing.

I have to explain this picture. Taneal was feeding Gavin a cookie. He was taking bites and accidentally bit her finger. He bit it so hard he chipped the nail polish! Her reaction was to push his face away. Not hard, didn't leave a mark. Well, except for the mud across his face. How she was feeding him and then her pushing him and where the mud on her hand came from I'm not sure. It more stunned him than anything. He didn't cry 'cause he wasn't hurt. Taneal about cried. He got her good. And Gavin has been known to bite, but this time was a complete accident. Poor kid. I was already taking pictures, so I snapped one of this before I even knew what had happened.

Nathan had a really great time, too. He loved the freedom this life vest gave him. He was all over the place with me. He loved the waves and splashing in the water.

Spencer had a great time. He is a lot more quiet about things. More mellow too. He played in the sand. He was buddies with Danielle that day and they had so much fun going out with my brother into the deeper water and swimming though the waves.

Camie spent most of her time on the beach with the twins digging in the sand. That girl sure has the natural ability to play. She can entertain herself and others for hours on end.

I don't know how long they spent digging this hole big enough for Camie to fit in. Probably at least an hour and a half.

Taneal had fun. I think she was out in the deep water most of the time. I had to call her in to get this picture. (She did have a buddy the whole time, was never out there alone.)

He is a picture of 5 of my 6 children playing along the beach.

 I don't like to post pictures of myself, especially in a swim suit. But this is me. Chasing Gavin and checking on the other children to make sure everyone was accounted for.  I read somewhere, probably Pinterest, a little saying that is so true for me. It goes something like this: You know you are a true mom when a trip to Target by yourself feels like a vacation and a vacation is more work than a vacation.

That is how it is with anywhere I go. It is work, work, work the whole time. Chasing kids, feeding kids, spot checking kids, making sure I can count to 6. Checking some more. All the while wrestling Gavin. And sometimes Nathan. And then spot checking the others once again.

But look at the memories we made. And even though it was so much work, it was so much MORE fun. My kids had a blast. And I slept so well that night.

And what was even better? No sunburns! Evenings at the beach is seriously the best time to go!