Summer fun

Relaxing with netflix on the iPad:

Bike riding with Grandma Joan:

Repainting a bird house for Grandma Joan:

Snacks (the first of many!) at a Royals game with Alan and Grandpa Jerry:

Alan labeled this picture as "mesmerized" by the baseball game.  I'm not so sure....

Cousins Camp -- water fun

Because it was approximately 150 degrees in Lyons during Cousins Camp, we opted for several water activities.  The pool:

And water balloons:

We had a set of water balloons with paint in them, so the kids started in white t-shirts:

After:

Cousins Camp -- more family

Aunt Ellen and Grandma Marlene drove to Lyons to see all the cousins:

We ate lunch at Scrambled Sam's in Lyons (amazing sweet cream pancakes!):

Cousins Camp -- water / sand tables

Mom bought these water / sand tables for the kids to assemble and play with:

Even Baby loved it!

Cousins Camp -- horses

Mom's neighbor has horses that they take to parades and shows.  They agreed to bring over three so the cousins (except Baby) could ride around the yard:

Coop was incredibly giddy and pretty much talked nonstop (shocking) the entire time:

I made the kids all write a thank you note to the neighbors (before they could have ice cream cake!):

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: