happy fourth of july!

We had a great fourth! On Tuesday evening, we went to Indian Shores Beach.  I packed a picnic dinner, and the kids and I picked Billy up from work on the way.  We did learn one thing ... never drive to the beach on a week-night!  The traffic was ridiculous!  But we did have a great time at the beach once we were there.  

Part of what I packed for our beach dinner. Veggies and fruit!  Yum!

Ready for dinner.

Catching the sun 

Watching the sunset ...

Just hanging out with Khloe.

She enjoyed munching on sand ... as usual.

Colton wanted to feed the seagulls ... guess who taught him that trick?  He always wants to do this ... and I always want to say 'no', but I find Billy digging in the chip bag handing Colton a few chips to throw at the birds.  At least he waited until we were ready to head home.  Colton thinks it's great fun to have all of the seagulls crowd around him when he feeds them.  Then he finds a shell or sand or a rock to throw at them.  They don't like that so much!  He usually finishes it off by chasing after them while squealing with delight.  

Colton feeds the seagulls.

Here's a video of Colton feeding the birds.

On Wednesday, we got up late ... around 9 a.m. (love my kids!) ... well, Billy actually got up earlier and went to the park to play basketball.  We fed the kids breakfast, and we headed out to Flatwoods Trail Park.  Billy and I roller bladed while we pushed the kids in the jogging stroller.  By 10:45 a.m., it was pretty hot!  We were sweating like crazy, and the kids were miserable in the stroller.  Khloe cried and cried ... Colton wanted to get out and run.  By the time we got back to the car, it was nearly noon.  We headed home, but I dropped Billy and Colton off at the park to play for a little bit.  

Cole always has to have his BIG smile going on. 

After naps ... by all four of us ... we headed down to the Mewhirter's house for some 4th fun.  We decided to grill out--veggie style!  We had grilled corn, veggie kabobs, grillers, big franks, and potato bowls.  A lot of food ... and only what was grilled!  Aside from that, we had potato salad, macaroni salad, watermelon, chips and dip, and drinks.  For dessert, we had fruit tarts and homemade strawberry cheesecake ice cream.  It was all very delicious!  We enjoyed hanging out and watching the kids play together.  The boys went out and bought some fireworks.  We shot them off around 8:30 ... the kids did not like the fireworks at all!  The smoke bombs were a hit--because there is no sound.  Throughout the fireworks, Colton kept asking to go inside.  Mason covered his ears and kept running to his Mommy.  Carson was crying.  Landon was crying and snuggling with his Mommy.  Khloe was crying and climbing me like a ladder with the death grip of fear in her hands.  While the adults enjoyed the entertainment ... it may be a few years before the kids have fun, too!  The kids did enjoy the sparklers a little bit.  

I made these tarts for the party.  They were super yummy!

I made this tasty strawberry cheesecake ice cream.  It turned out pretty delicious!

Watching the fireworks with friends ... Duska with Landon and Gwendy with Carson ... Brian and Billy had Mason and Colton.  Mike was lighting the fireworks.

Some fireworks!

She was NOT a fan of the loud noise!

Colton's first sparkler.  He could handle those.

Khloe's first sparkler ... she was less than thrilled.

We had a great time with our friends, and we enjoyed having Billy home for an extra day this week!  We're also looking at our 6-year anniversary coming up this Monday!  Pretty exciting!

Today, I took some pictures of Khloe.  Isn't she so cute?

A little blurry, but I thought it was cute anyway.

Colton-isms:

Today, I was going to put Colton down for a nap.  I had just laid Koki down in her bed, and I shut the door from her room to go into Cole's room.  I leaped into Colton's room with a kind of skip and arm wave.  He looked at me and said, "That was AWESOME, Mommy!"

Colton will race by me and say, "Watch out, Mommy!  Here comes me!"

For whatever reason, Colton calls a napkin a "nappy-can-can".  He asked me for a "nappy-can-can" for lunch this afternoon!