Annie - One Month Old

I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but Annie got a photo shoot for her one month birthday.

It started off on Ethan's lap.


And then moved to the couch.
Some of the faces are really funny. I'll let you insert your own captions.

July 4th Barbeque

On the 4th we went across the road to hang out and celebrate. Listening to the radio, I had heard of a Seder that Dennis Prager had created to help celebrate Independence Day. It is designed to help us remember the sacrifices that were made for our country and what it stands for.

Mark and I had done this with our kids on Sunday afternoon. We had left over Red White and Blue Fruit Pizza, so I took it across the road with us, and the kids and I did it again with the rest of the family (Mark was working)

Grandpa waiting for the fun to start


Ethan and Julibeth reading a part.

Fruit Pizza


It was over in about 10 minutes.
Afterwards we headed over to the fire pit for a weenie roast.

Everyone getting food.

Grandpa roasting a hot dog. He was a champ and roasted almost all of the hot dogs for us.

The kids aren't all that big on hot dogs, so they stuffed themselves with chips

And quenched their thirst with Capri Suns

Emily had taken a tumble at Aunt Becca's house the day before and had teeth marks in her upper lip. She was content to sit, nibble on a bun, and watch the fire.

Ethan roasting a marshmallow.

Here's Annie! It was misting every now and then, and she was asleep. We covered her up so the random moisture wouldn't wake her up.

Hey! Who turned on the lights?

And back to sleep. Newborns are great like that.

Those Capri Suns were a hit!

And the Doritos didn't fall flat either.

The kids had fun hiding and playing up there. It made Grandpa nervous to watch them. I just turned around and figured I'd hear them if one of them fell to their death.

Jason, Emily and Ethan hiding from the rain with Grandma

Hot Air Balloons

Our now yearly tradition of going to the Hot Air Balloon Show came a day or two early this year. There were 3 days we could have gone: Friday, Saturday and Monday (actually the 4th). Mark worked Saturday morning and Monday night, so we decided to go to see the balloons on Friday, just in case life happened and we didn't make on Monday (and that way Monday wouldn't be such a long day for Mark). So we woke up before 6, got the kids in the car and headed out. The in-laws came with us and we made a party out of it.

Daddy and Emmie Sue, enjoying the sights.


There was a Darth Vader balloon this year, and they brought along characters.
Here's Ethan with Darth Vader.

And Shelly

With a Storm Trooper

Shelly's turn

Jason was super shy and wouldn't go up to either to get a picture.
Aunt JB helped, and the Storm Trooper was really nice.

Jason finally succumbed to having his picture taken.

Here's Darth Vader about half way blown up.

The in-laws were smart. They brought along some chairs. We spread out blankets and had a snack.


Breakfast was not exactly what you would call 'healthy.'
I didn't hear any complaints though.


I have no idea why he's standing like a flamingo...

Darth Vader's getting closer!

And he's up!

Luke, I am your father!

Some of the balloons we got to see

Bye Darth Vader

Grandpa, it's not good for your posterity to kill male heirs...

The famous Coke bottle was back again this year. It didn't get set up until after all the other balloons were off the field.
It looses some perspective with no other balloons next to so you can see it's twice as tall as it's neighbors.

Shelly spent the large part of the morning playing in the dirt.
I can't get that girl out of the dirt to save my life.
Guess there's no point in trying.
At least this is dry dirt.

Emily decided dry dirt was fun.

Hmm, Balloons... or Dirt...
Which one will the kids enjoy more?

Maybe next year we'll sleep in and stick the kids in the sand box instead... :)

I think he might agree with that plan.