Ice

Little Laci discovered ice this weekend.

She couldn't get enough of it.

Ice is serious business.

Ice is slippery.

Ice is best in big chunks.

Ice leaves a cold, red face behind.

Fourth of July - The Rest of It

My plan was to finish sharing our Fourth of July festivities with lots of pictures, but then I realized I didn't actually take many pictures.  After subtracting the million pictures of Laci, the pictures of people eating (no one wants to see that) and the pictures with people's eyes closed/talking/generally looking stupid - I'm left with only a few.  Guess I was just too busy having fun.

The Family

We've never done a full group shot before.

Gotta love camera timers.

I think this will become a new tradition for us:

Mandatory group shot at every family function.

Mom & Dad

Mom - please don't kill me for posting this picture.

I don't have enough pictures of my parents together.

It is a rare moment that both of them are sitting still at the same time

- actually, it is a rare moment that my mom is sitting still EVER.

Myles & Kristina

Can't wait for the wedding.

Enough said.

Oh, and Kristina you look really pretty in that top.

Beth providing the musical entertainment with her iTouch.

You can always count on Beth for mood music.

Bubs

I know you are getting too big for your nickname, but I think I'll always call you Bubs.

It just seems weird to call you "Ryan."  Or even "Little Ryan."

Don't worry, it won't be long until you're BIG Ryan.

My Hubby and My Baby

She's practicing her "mama" - how sweet.

And practicing her walking with Papa.

And trying to walk the dog.

Poor Sally - you are a very patient dog, I love you.

Those are the people, well about half of them.

I'm still recovering from all the loud talking and eating.

Laci and I took a much needed, long afternoon nap together.

The thing about my family is that when we get together, we don't actually DO anything.  We simply plan what, where, and when we are going to eat for the duration of the holiday.  So, unfortunately, I cannot think of any entertaining, amusing, or even slightly interesting stories to tell.  I could tell one story involving Aunty Jenny, Kristina, and some Bodka, but I will refrain.  I'm sure it was one of those "You had to be there" moments, plus they might be a little embarrassed.

The festivities wound down Sunday evening with Coconut Creme pie from Cornucopia while we watched the Fireworks Show from my mom's field.  They are pretty small from where we were, but if you squinted your eyes while watching them, they...well...they were still pretty small. But still, it was the perfect end to a Fourth of July weekend, complete with mosquito bites and staying up too late.  I'm already looking forward to the next family gathering.

Fourth of July - Just the Highlights

It's Monday evening at the end of a glorious, fantastic, amazing, exhausting three day weekend.

I'm beat.  Laci's beat.  We're all beat.

It was also a very loooooooooooong weekend.

So long, it would take me a week to describe it all.

I could talk about the food alone for at least two days.

Oh, the food.

If you are a foodie, you need to join my family.

There is nothing we do better than food.

Just a few items worth mentioning:

Homemade cinnamon rolls - could induce sugar shock just by looking at them

Pounds of perfectly grilled tri-tip

Shrimp & veggie kabobs seasoned with fresh herbs

Cobblers, pies, & ice cream

20 lbs of fresh steamer clams

The weekend was also fantastic because...

...the weather was the best I've ever seen for a Fourth of July weekend, didn't even pass the 100 mark

...family came from out of town to visit with, yell with, eat with

...more family came to help chase my baby around

...no work for my hubby

And those are just the highlights.

I have more pictures from the weekend, but those will have to wait until tomorrow after I've had a little shut-eye.

For now, more sprinkler fun.

Loads of Fun

One cat...

One baby...

One laundry basket...

...loads of fun!

At least for the baby.

Walking, crashing, & bruises

I vacuumed yesterday.  That has been the extent of my cleaning.  Surely this does not qualify my house as "clean", but it qualifies as something clean, thereby releasing me from my housekeeping duties - at least for a little bit.  Can you tell I really don't like cleaning?  I often wonder if I don't like cleaning, or if I just don't like cleaning THIS house.  Only time, and a new house, will tell.

I have pictures from a month ago I had wanted to post, but the thought of catching up on a month's worth of photos does not sound fun to me.  So, I'll just start with what we did yesterday, and maybe, someday, I'll get to all those other pictures.

Isn't she cute?  See the bruise on her cheek?  This is the third bruise she has sported on her face in the last week.  She fell (obviously) and used a chair leg as a landing pad.  The previous two were on her forehead, one the result of a desk collision, the other involving the improper use of a walker as a jungle gym.  She's pretty tough, but there were some dramatics with the walker incident.  I swear I watch my child.  I swear. 

There have been quite a few wrecks because there has been quite a bit of this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And, as can be expected from a first-time mom, there are about 50 other similar photos in various walking poses, but I thought that might be a little overkill.