Summer's Simple Pleasures Series- Fishing and Having the Funnest Daddy in the Whole World!

I love this series! We had the most amazing 4th of July weekend.  We started off with a local small town parade, festival, and fireworks display on Saturday.  The highlight of my son's day was throwing a softball at the dunking tank and dunking the local high school baseball coach so many times I lost count.   I am ashamed to say I forgot my camera. 

As much fun as that day was, the next was even better!  We drove to the nearest lake and tried to catch some fish. 

The kids pulled in fish after fish...

after fish.

Dad caught one little bass.   I caught absolutely nothing.  Seriously, if we had to rely on our fishing skills for food, we'd be really hungry.

But we had fun and that's all that matters!

 
We got hot out there and luckily everyone brought a swimsuit because there was a beach there!  We had never been here and didn't know what to expect.  It was an adventure.

So we decided to drive over to the beach to cool off.

I've never seen my two kids have so much fun together and get along so well (for the whole day).  It was amazing to watch them play together with such joy on their faces.

Getting a ride on your big brother's shoulders has to be the best thing ever!

It was a perfect day for ...

covering yourself in sand....

then showing everybody your sand covered muscles...

then running full speed back into the water...

Then Daddy decided to join in the fun.

and let them jump off his shoulders...

again...

and again...

and again...

They played for hours!

I'm not sure who had more fun...

I love that Dad is so much fun.  What could be a better memory than jumping off your daddy's shoulders at the lake for hours?

and hanging on to him for dear life when you can't touch?

It was a beautiful day...

in so many ways...

It will be a day we will remember forever...

"So, kids, how much fun did you have today?"

"THIS MUCH!!!"

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I can't believe it's been 7 years already!

This seems like it was yesterday!

The nurses all said you were the prettiest baby ever.

You nursed for 4 straight hours.  I had never seen a baby so hungry right after birth!

Your big brother loved you so much and he still does.

It took approximately 2 minutes to wrap your daddy around your little finger for life.

We were both so happy to finally have our little girl.  Our family was complete!

As you grew, you delighted us with your wonderfulness!  You got your momma's green eyes and your daddy's silliness and gift of making people laugh.

You brought so much happiness and laughter into our home!

We've learned to expect the unexpected from you always!

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect little girl for our family.

Your momma and daddy and brother love you more than you know!

I hope that you always stay silly and never lose the enthusiasm for life that you've had since the day you were born!

You are growing up way too fast for me.  You've turned into a beautiful young lady right before my eyes.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

A walk in the storm

It is terribly nasty looking outside today.  We took advantage of a break in the rain to take a walk to the pond.

They poked around in the grass looking for critters while I ran back to the house to get my camera.  I can't not take pictures on a walk to the pond (you never know what you might see).

Everyone was extremely cautious with every step in the tall grass.  We now know there are lots of snakes out here.

The sky over the pasture was eerily beautiful.

We were delighted to see this in the next pasture, running as fast as they could to get away from us.

Look closely and you'll see 5 little goslings running after their momma.  (and one big, bad daddy looking after them)

We saw lots of tadpoles.  We are planning on going back later to catch some and raise them.  I think that will be so cool to watch them turn into frogs.

On walks, we always have a cat or two following us.  I'm not sure why.  They just tag along.  I took a picture of Fluffy and was surprised when I came home and looked at the pictures.

Look closer...

Is that not the biggest frog ever. What is the best way to catch a frog?  I bet he has seriously meaty legs.  Just kidding. 

We saw a beautiful red-winged blackbird.  

And my little Daisy scout found a daisy.

Then it started pouring, and we ran home.

The End.