3rd of July

To celebrate the 4th of July, we went out to Tim's on Saturday. Annette and Ian came down from Minnesota with the boys and offered to pick up Eliot the day before to have a campout in the backyard with Noah, Jack, Ethan and Mason. They had a great time and apparently talked Tim into taking them tubing. Ian captured this great series of shots of Eliot and Noah fighting for their lives...

(or at least to stay in the tube)...

As you can see, they failed the task. 

But later in the day they tried again, and again, and again.... boys- when are you going to learn that Uncle Tim will always flip you!

As soon as we got there, Elise was in the water. I don't even know why she bothered to put a dress on, she should have just wore her swimsuit that day. Caitie and Chris were relaxin'...

Elise talked Tim into taking her for a boat ride, 

"faster- go, faster!"

Then she went tubing. She managed to stay in the tube (I don't think Tim took her as fast) and she only ended up feeling nauseas.
So, we got out the toys to play with baby Grace. Grace loved the puppy bucket :)

Here's the girls. 

Annette painted Elise's fingers and toes with beautiful sparkly, red polish :) Adrienne was here too, just didn't get her in any of the pictures.

Jack and Eliot found some time to shoot hoops...

It was also Ethan's birthday. 

I love how the kids are patiently waiting, even Grace, for the adults to gather to sing, "Happy Birthday".

(Ethan, Mason, Eliot, Noah, Chris standing in the background, Jack, Elise & Grace. Caitie and Adrienne were standing with the adults.)

Before we left we got a preview of the fireworks.

Steve was still working on the fun ones :)

Happy Birthday, America!