Fun Fest Kiddie Parade

Last weekend was New Richmond's Fun Fest.  Kelly and I got the last minute idea of putting the kids in the Kiddie Parade, just like us and our cousins use to do when we were little.  Unlike years past, there is no longer a Fun Fest theme (don't even get me started on that ;)) but it made coming up with an idea a lot easier.  Kelly suggested Olympics and we came up with a few ideas.  Then we convinced Jessie, Tina and Susie to join in!  So we went with a hometown heroes/future Olympic stars theme and had different athletes. 

We had Grace as a Soccer player, Lucy as a gymnast (I think she was pretty excited to get a new red gymnastics leotard for her actual gymnastics class!), Lauren as a swimmer, Leyton and Ella were tennis players, Maggie was a runner, and Cal and Luca were baseball players.  We realized at the last minute that baseball was no longer an Olympic sport for the first time this year, but we still went with it and called it good since they are little and were sitting in wagons anyways ;) 

Here are a few photos from the day:

Maggie, Lucy and Cal taking a spin on the 4-wheeler at G&G's where we met to get ready:

 Cal was excited to be arriving at the parade:

 Maggie, Leyton, Grace, Lucy and Lauren looking like Olympic stars!

 Kelly and Susie took on the job of walking them in the parade.  Thanks guys! Oh, and Joey was a baseball player too :)

 Grace and Lauren doing a good job waving to the people watching:

 Lucy carrying the Olympic torch:

 Just like we always had after the parade growing up, they still hand out ice cream sandwiches.  Thank goodness because it was a HOT day!

 They had some games and activities for the kids afterwards.  Cal spent most of his hard-earned tickets at the pick a duck table, winning tootsie rolls!

 Cal once again staying hydrated:

Hydrating

You gotta stay hydrated in this heat!

(I know this isn't the safest way to get a drink, but who didn't love a good drink of ice cold hose water when they were younger!?)

Hanging Out

In the past couple of days Cal has discovered that he likes to sit in tiny baskets/buckets! This basket usually has all of their farm toys in it and the other day Cal emptied it out and proceeded to crawl in it and just hang out for awhile.  The picture below was from a few days before when he decided to empty out all of the balls and hop on in! 

Cabin fun

We headed to the McNamara's cabin for our annual 4th of July get together.  It is always fun to get together with the McNamara side over the 4th because we don't get together very often.  This year since the 4th fell on a Wednesday, we headed up there the weekend after.  Unfortunately Pat and Terri couldn't make it, and neither could Tina, Susie and Maggie.  It was great to see everyone else though, and of course there's always plenty of laughs and good food up there!

Cal enjoyed scaring us all by walking/running up and down the dock all day:

Leyton swam out to the raft all by himself (with Dad, Grace and Grandpa)

 The guys got the raft and kids going crazy... it was usually in a slide position:

 Happy guy Luca hanging out at the dock:

 Cal was in love with fishing.  Dave helped him catch his first fish ever, and he couldn't get enough of it.

 Checking out his catch:

 Watching it get thrown back in:

 Lauren holding her fish she caught:

 Aunt Marilyn and Rory (Rory is one week younger than Luca):

 Kelly and Cal having fun in the water:

 He loves lounging in the water:

 The cousins had fun playing in the loft after a long day of swimming:

 Luca, Rory & Cal:

 Lucy, Liam, Lauren and Leyton (try saying that fast!) enjoying ice cream cones:

 Leyton and Liam hanging out:

July 4th Festivities

We had a busy, fun & hot 4th of July this year!  Apple Valley has their "Freedom Days" over the 4th week so that was fun to experience.  The big parade was on the 4th at 1:00, and it was about 100 degrees.  It was a fun parade though, so we sweated through the whole thing.  Good thing we had a cooler with a million waters in it.  The kids had fun getting and eating candy, and they loved the marching bands, fire trucks, and even a monster truck! 

Leyton with his candy bag and political stickers... He was just excited to get some stickers!

 For the start of the parade they had Jets fly overhead, which was pretty neat. 

 These pictures show just how hot it was... Cal was a sweaty mess, just dripping the entire time (but really we all were!)

 We had a big blanket and chairs, but the boys just kept inching closer and closer to the street to see the action better and get candy:

 The night before Cal got his first tattoo.  He perfected the word tattoo and would point to it constantly! He was so proud.

 Leyton posing with the monster truck:

 That night we all headed to the Apple Valley fireworks. They started at 10 and I'm pretty sure it was still close to 100 degrees.  We got there early and enjoyed some food and Cal enjoyed the music/dancing! We could not keep him off the dance floor. Grandpa said several times "best 4th ever" so I'm glad we were able to do this with him and Sarah!

 This was Cal's reaction to the first few fireworks!  I don't think he was prepared for the brightness and the noise!

 He started really getting into it though:

 Yes, its 10:30 and Leyton's hair is wet with sweat:

 We also went down and saw the firetrucks, helicopter, ambulance, etc. that they had for the kids:

 Thank goodness for the ice cream sandwiches they were handing out!

 Leyton and Cal showing off their American flag tattoos:

 Cal on the Merry Go Round:

 Leyton trying out the airplanes.  He LOVED this ride and went on it about 5 times!