Fantastic Fourth Of July (part one) 2011

What a weekend! I took 140 pictures, so this is a two part blog posting. Bare with me!
Friday morning we were off to Merced, for the 3rd year in a row. Off to go have some 4th of July fun in the sun with friends at Lake Titykaka.


Mary and Teresa were happy to have some other girls to play with while we were there this year! It was nice for us adults too.

Playing in the motorhome is lots of fun, nice and cool. It was about 105 every day! HOT!!

Kevin was so excited to get out there and catch some cat fish! Mary was excited to use her Barbie pole too.

Kevin kept catching one after another. He threw them back each time, but he caught 4 in a row that first morning.

The proud fisherman!

Mary turned 5, officially, on the 2nd. We had to have a little celebration for her, of course.

Her favorite gift from Aunt Corie, a barbie pool.

Teresa following Nana to wherever she was off to.

Corie and Elaine

Mary was a water girl ALL weekend. The first thing she would say when she woke up, every morning, was 'can we go swimming?'

This is the beautiful lake on the property. Like a resort.

Off for a paddle boat ride with daddy.

Teresa was quite the water girl as well. She had no fear.

She had so much fun with daddy.

The girls took one break to play with play dough Teresa was sporting daddy's hat.

Jello Shot time!!! First you have to run your tongue around the ring and then suck it out. Corie and I are pro's at it!

My picture ham!

Fantastic Fourth Of July (part two)

Camping is so much fun, because you get to use the outside potty. Teresa was great at using the potty all weekend!

Now it was the 4th, and it was time for the Titykaka parade around the lake. Last year Kevin was the queen. This year it was Gary's turn. He did a fab job!

This year we had an official banner made to start the parade off right!

We brought the wagon and decorated it. The kids rode in that while Kevin pulled them.

Next came the tractor pulling the queen of the parade!

And.....Queen Gary!

And here are the three queens so far. 2009 Queen Beverly, 2010 Queen Kevin, and 2011 Queen Gary. Queen Gary passed his staff on to a girl for next year. Next year will be Queen Kelly.

It was such a fun weekend! The kids were fantastic. Another fun time for the books! Thank you Bob and Bev for opening your house to us crazies!!!

My little Love Bug

I love this picture my friend Michelle took at Mary's birthday play date. Teresa is my little picture ham. She was being such a doll giving me love and loving the camera. How I love her so.

Mary's Birthday Play Date

For Mary's birthday, with her friends, we had a small play date at our house. The kids had a blast.

Here are Teresa and Santino in the sand box.

Keane is helping Mary open her present.

Here Mary is sharing all her new Barbie things with her girlfriends Gabriella and Milani.

She was having so much fun playing with Keane and Gabriella.

CUPCAKE TIME!!!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Brooke was happy to have her cupcake!

So was Keane!

And Santino!

And, of course, Teresa!!

Syrah was the best kitty. He let those kids pick on him, drag him around, and pet him all afternoon.

The pool was super fun on a nice hot day.

A fun fun day with friends to celebrate Mary's birthday!!

Turning 5 with Chuck E Cheese

Last Thursday we met my aunt JoAnn and Uncle Glenn at Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Mary turning 5. Last year we did this and the kids didn't really get it, since we had never taken her before that. Well, let me tell ya, they REALLY got it this time. We got them to eat their pizza and then they were off spending tokens! So much fun.

Aunt JoAnn is the best shopper and picked out some really cute dress' for Mary. Mary is quite the dress girl lately. Thank you Aunt JoAnn

Father's Day 2011

This year was a mellow Father's Day. We spent the day at Kevin's sister's house with his family. My parents were in Laughlin baskin in the sun on the lake. That evening we just chilled at home in the sun in the backyard while the kids played in the pool. Nice and relaxing.

play date fun

The other day we had a fun play date with friends. Summer is here and the mommies are already starting to go stir crazy w/out school to drop them off at. So, we try to get together once a week to let them all play together.