We are family!

Earlier this week we spent four days at our annual family reunion.  Papa has seven brothers and sisters, and everyone gets together every year at the beach.  We had so much fun!  The kids really enjoyed the ocean this year.  There were cousins to play with and s'mores to eat.  We brought home enough sand to last us until next year.  All in all, a wonderful time.

Beach prep

Where'd he pick that up?

Owen's favorite phrase of the evening: "With this ring, I thee wed."  Don't ask, we have no idea!

It's in their blood

Today would have been my maternal grandparents 56th anniversary.  On their honeymoon Noni taught Papa how to fish.  He spent the rest of his life doing it - and loving every second.  

A couple decades ago he began to put on an annual men's fishing trip to Topaz Lodge every spring.  He had hats from every year, and they used to line his bedroom walls.  When we packed him up last year to move him, my mom and aunts put all the hats into a suitcase, which they promptly forgot about until a few days ago.  We opened up said suitcase and found years worth of hats and just had to laugh.  Lauren and Owen each picked out a favorite, and have sported them with pride the last couple days.

Red White and Blue

Yesterday we participated in the annual neighborhood 4th of July parade.  This was the kids' third time, maybe fourth.  Papa and I never learn from previous years and always end up pushing the kids up the (tiny) hills and chasing them down!  I saw one smart dad who had a dog leash tied to the front of his toddler's trike and he just pulled him the whole way - much better than stooping over from behind pushing like us!

Owen and Noni

Lauren and Papa

Watching the fireworks down the street while waiting for the big ones to start.

God Bless America!

Relaxing after a hard afternoon of swimming

As seen on TV

Lauren is watching a movie, trying to beat the heat, and this commercial just came on.  She wants to buy one.  Silly girl!

That would have been awesome

The kids are playing dress up right now in the living room.  Lauren has her flower girl dress on from Uncle Chad and Aunt Talia's wedding two years ago and Owen has on his Spiderman face mask.  I asked Lauren if she remembered what her dress was from and was telling her that she wore it when she was little in their wedding.  Owen asked, completely serious, if he wore the Spiderman face mask in their wedding.

Side note:  Lauren just asked me if she could have a marriage.