July 4 with Friends

Some friends invited us over to their home to celebrate 4th of July.  We had a LOT of fun!  We started the evening with delicious barbecue chicken and some fantastic salads.  The kids ran around playing with water balloons and jumping on the trampoline.  Then it was time for the fireworks.  As you can see in the following pictures, the kids LOVED the fireworks and could not get enough of them!

Kailyn used Ava as an excuse to go inside out of the hot weather and to avoid the loud cracking of the firecrackers and fireworks.  She's never been a fan of the loud noises of firecrackers.

Jordan waited for each firework display with great anticipation.  Sadly, Jordan was not feeling well, explaining her jacket and blanket in this 88 degree temperature.  She had a fever all day the next day, too.  The poor kid had goosebumps without her jacket on.  Meanwhile, I was wiping away sweat by the gallons.


Caden enjoyed the fireworks, but had to plug his ears.


Chase, too.


Sometimes, Chase needed a little extra help plugging his ears.

Luckily, there were treats to enjoy.  This picture really doesn't do justice to the patriotic colors that Chase put all over his face.  It was much more noticeable in real life.

Thankfully, there were Sparklers.  Kailyn fluttering about with her Sparkler.

Caden at first a little nervous . . . 

 . . . then very confused

Chase ecstatic to be holding fire in his hands.

And Jordan and Ava, keeping the grass from floating away.

So, turns out, Ava is pretty cute.  She's our best baby, by far.  Took us 5 to get it right, but we finally got a kid who puts herself to sleep.  The other night, I was getting the kids ready for bed.  I couldn't keep doing it while holding Ava, so I put her down on the ground.  Not 2 minutes later, I found Ava asleep on the floor--she had put herself to sleep.  She likes to grab blankets or anything else she can find and pull it to her face.  

She's also getting strong enough to sit (taken at the age of 4 months) and stand (against the couch, also taken at the age of 4 months)

Finally, some other random pictures of our smiling little lady and a picture of her at her baby blessing.

Reptiles -n- Slides

As part of our trip to the Black Hills, we decided to spend some time at "Reptile Gardens." 

The lizards stopped to pose and got quite the audience

Our redheads thought it would be fun to touch the snakes

After realizing the redheads had not been swallowed whole, the brunettes decided they could try touching the snake, too.

Jordan showing Ava how to properly pet a tortoise

Ava demonstrating she could at least eat grass like a tortoise

The redheads show how it's done again.  This kind gentleman wrestled a crocodile (the big ones behind him), then passed around a little guy for petting.

After much persuasion and fear of being ostracized, Kailyn finally decided to pet the crocodile.

Ava demonstrating her leg strength and balance.

Then we visited the Dinosaur Park, where this friendly triceratops allowed the kids to climb aboard for a quick picture.  He had been doing it all day.

Next we went swimming back at our motel.  Ava LOVED the water.

Kailyn coming down the pipe.

Caden was next, but not a huge fan, so only a couple of pictures

Chase loved coming down by himself, too.

Jordan showing how it's done

Mt Rushmore -n- More

We took a trip to Mt. Rushmore with some very good friends.  Here are some pictures.  

The view as you walk up the steps

The whole fam with the Guys behind

Two very good friends.  The kids did great with each other--not a single fight over a 4-day period.  They were best of friends.

Cute little Jordan

The kids (minus the toddlers and babies)

BFFs

BFFs 2

Two families enjoying some sun

Storybook Island in Rapid City.  A park with themes from several classic stories.  The kids stopped for a picture here.  We walked under the bridge and through a gate 20 yards ahead, and the next thing you know, not a single one of our kids were in sight anymore!  Literally, they each individually saw something they liked and scattered in 8 different directions.

Going on a train ride--what fun!

Jordan's missing, but otherwise a lot of fun!

The boys doing the firefighter thing

Zrbt time--taking turns