So Many Brasels, So Much Fun!

This has been a month of family fun! We started with Grammy and Grampy in town for the 4th and Eli's birthday (and Eli's first fireworks viewing). Next up the west coast cousins joined us for a week that included backyard playing and a bonfire, a zoo visit, biking around town, an introduction to amazing bubbles, a day at the lake, and many evening viewings of Scooby Doo. Finally, our auntie from north of the border came to sample the legendary cheese curds of the farmers' market and play with her great-niece and great-nephew (who was her new best buddy). It seems so quiet around here now that everyone is gone...okay, it is still pretty loud. Two kids under the age of five can make a remarkable volume of noise.

4th of July

Firework viewing with Grampy B

Ready for the parade at Mimi's

Backyard Fun and S'mores

Backyard bonfire

Lots of work to do in the backyard

Double yum!

Becoming a s'mores pro

Swing set full of cousins

Big cousins are great helpers on the swing

Planning out the next sandbox city

A Trip to the Zoo

All our animals

Wild animals

Little monkey

Another monkey

Well, at least all the boys are in the frame...counts as a group shot.

Cluck, cluck

Playground Visit

On the big kid swing

Look at all those monkeys!

Backyard Bubbles (photos courtesy of Aunt Kim)

Beach Day

Our private beach (until everyone else showed up)

Working together on a sand creation

Picnic time

Four is Fantastic!

It has been a zoo around our house recently as Eli celebrated turning four with our family and his preschool friends. While it is hard to believe that my first baby is four, it is such a joy to watch him grow and learn each and every day.

Birthday sign is up...time to celebrate!

A full table at the birthday chocolate chip pancake breakfast

Eli's zoo cake

Turning four is very exciting!

 Cookout lunch with Mimi

Daddy helped with reading cards

Safety first when using a weedwhacker

Our attempt at a picture of the grandparents with all the grandkids

Inviting the little animals to come join the celebration

It really was a zoo around here

Birthday treats

Wild balloons

Ready to celebrate

 Food for the animals

 Hope the kids can help the zookeepers find our lost animals

Giraffe masks ready to be decorated

The lion briefs the other animals in the sand table as to what to expect today

Little animals ready to go home with our guests

Indoor sand table fun

Animals working on art

 Very focused on their art

Eli Giraffe and his buddies

Happy birthday to you!

Evelyn thinks her brother's birthday party is fun (and yummy!)

Working together

Yay to the rain staying away so we could play outside