Camp Out

I've been thinking that it might be time to take the girls camping.

So, we got a new family tent (instead of our super light weight backpacking tent (that is set up in Camila's bedroom) and set it up in the back yard!

And decided to spend the night as a trial run.

Here are shots from the morning after! Gosh we had fun!



We stayed up late watching the stars throught the roof of the tent. And airplanes and we even saw a helicopter. That was very exciting for the girls to try to identify in the dark.

I'm not sure we're (Mommy is) ready to go off on a real adventure.  :)

Firefighters to the Rescue

Firefighters Livvie and Camila came to the rescue the other day.

Lots of zooming around and pretend spraying of water.
Pretty impressive displays of teamwork.

Blueberry Picking

We caught the very last couple of days of blueberry season. (Next year we'll try to go in June!)

But the picking wasn't hard - nearly every berry left on a bush was ripe! And really, there were plenty to choose from. Not the big fat beautiful variety that you get earlier in the season apparently, but these little beauties still have really good flavor and will be perfect for baking -- not to mention smoothies and that's only if there are any left after constant snacking!

Livvie ate all her berries before we could get out of the field. :-) She had been picking a bit further on with Jeff, and as they were headed back I heard her say proudly, I have 8 berries. Then, I heard her say, just as proudly - or (matter-of-fact ly; anyway) "I have 4 berries" I honestly believed she meant she had just picked 4 MORE berries. Until the count down continued and her bucket was EMPTY by the time she got to me!!

 :-) funny kid. Camila ate her fair share, to be sure! But not every single one!!

Party Time

 Chase turned 16!!

His brother & sister constructed an incredible birthday cake (I'll have to add the picture later) it was tiers and stacks of Hostess Treats: twinkies, snoballs, brownies, cupcakes, etc.

Then they blindfolded him and led him all over the neighborhood and finally to the house with all his friends and family and incredible cake.  Good memories, I'm sure.

The next night the little girls enjoyed pizza and a movie!

Fourth of July in Florida

Florida Trip

We've recently returned from another wonderful family vacation in Florida with the Ruoss (Sanders, Pfeiffer) Clan.  Our warmest thanks to the Sanders family for extending such marvelous hospitality to the invading inlaws at their lake house retreat for the holiday week. 

The travel is a big part of the adventure, especially for the kiddos, and they both did very well. We arrived  on time, with our sanity, our smiles, and our luggage... A damn fine start!!

We left home at like 3:30 am. Here are the girls waiting for the shuttle bus at the airport. Yawning and wrinkled from sleeping in their clothes.

We spent a good part of everyday at the beach. What a fun treat for all of us.

Check out this terrific grasshopper that Jeff brought down to show us.

WOWZA!

Enjoying a neighborhood picnic.

Kim & Wayne Sanders 

Uncle Roger making Camila giggle (doesn't take much!) a little tickle is a sure thing!

Liv sharing some bit of exciting news with Uncle Wayne

Little sister basking in the loving attention.

Jumping off the sea-wall onto a giant inflated "tube"

Splash. Splash. Splash.

more beach fun. and a quick (distracted) hug from Aunt Kimmy

more beach fun with Cousin Summer.

Re-Fuelling before heading back out to play.

Go - Go - Go Girl!

Our neighbors have these ridiculous French Bulldogs. They are very friendly, and the girls loved them.

A Lovely Mid-Summer Evening

 It was a splendid evening at home. Atter a fun day playing together and especially enjoying Jody's company, we shared a pleasant meal and were out playing in the yard in the warm air and the warm light of a summer sunset.  Good Times! Here are a couple pictures...

 

 

Liv got to be "The Girl in the Jungle Book Movie, Carrying the Bottle of Water"

We played a follow-the-instructions game, "Red Square, Blue Square"

Camila finally managed to wrap herself up in Yellow. It took many tries, but the hard work and determination paid off in the end!