Cousins Camp -- turtle race

The Sterling 4th of July festivities include a box turtle race.  Although Coop and I saw a snapping turtle on the drive to Lyons, those aren't allowed in the race.  Luckily, a local Sterling man found one that we could use:

We named him Louie:

Everyone decorates turtles.  Kelly and I (at midnight, and with the help of a little wine) decided to decorate Louis as the house from the movie Up (complete with balloons):

It was a bit windy that day, so we ended up with just one balloon (and it fell off after the first race anyway):

At the start of each race, turtles are place in the center ring:

Someone lifts the ring and the turtles all race to the outer edge of the circle (though they don't exactly know that, I don't think... at least Louis didn't):

He didn't win any race, but we had fun!

Cousins Camp -- fireworks

Cousins Camp coincided nicely with the Fourth of July, so naturally... fireworks.

Lamest July 4 pic ever:

Sparklers:

My fireworks-shooting crew:

Cousins Camp -- Baby's birthday

Baby turned 1 just a few days before Cousins Camp, so we had to celebrate (and decorate):

Piñata!

Coop and Baby ended up with mustache tattoos from the piñata:

Cousins Camp 2016!

 Coop and his cousins (and their mothers) got together at Grandma Joan and Grandpa Cecil's for Cousins Camp 2016.  Much gator riding:

 And playing with Baby Syl:

We saw an armadillo on the streets of Lyons!

Kelly ran the Lyons-to-Sterling run on July 4:

Prince got tons of attention!

A bit of exercise (and iPod playing):

Making pudding beach cups:

The ever photogenic group:

New place

While Coop was in Argentina, I moved to a new place in Lawrence and closed on our house in Baldwin.  Before he left, we did a modified version of the House Olympics that he had created:

Not officially part of the obstacle course, but he thought it looked fun:

Signing the lease on the new place:

Jenny's new cage:

The rug we picked up for Coop's new room:

Once Coop got back, we made cookies and took them around to the neighbors to introduce ourselves.  What a great neighborhood with plenty of kiddos (most of them girls under the age of 6) and incredible diversity.  And dogs and chickens too.  It's going to be great.

ARGENTINA!!

In late-June, Cooper and Alan (and most of Alan's family) went to Argentina for Coop's cousin Bailey's wedding.  Alan posted a bunch of pictures on Facebook, but I pulled my favorite ones to post here.  I don't really know what anything is, so you'll have to ask Alan for more details!

 A 1911 Renault that belonged to someone famous.  Coop loved it!

The salt flats in the Andes:

Coop decked out for the wedding:

Coop giving Diego his ring after it had been held and blessed by everyone:

Apparently, according to Alan's mom, Coop was quite the dancer!

One of the souvenirs Coop brought for me -- a house carved out of salt at the salt flats.

In between big events....

Coop found this clock at a garage sale.  He collects them now, he told me:

For Father's Day, Coop got Alan and gift card, but it came embedded in concrete that he had to smash with a hammer:

Coop and Molly and I went out for dinner at the Mad Greek: