Happy Independence Day

We started our day off by going to the Murray parade as we always do.  We got to our spot and Tony set up the umbrella behind us which was so nice to be in the shade the whole time.
The kids did really good to stay by us during the parade and got lots of candy from all the floats, cars, and other people in the parade. They did not have as many entries in the parade as they normally do.  They had 75 and they normally have over 100.  It was still lots of fun and probably better that we weren't stuck out in the hot sun for much longer.
Allie did really good during the parade.  She lasted about 20 minutes in the stroller before wanting out.  Tony got her out and then she was really good watching all the action.  She did cry once when she was squirted with water and once when a piece of candy hit her.  So really good for her first parade.

After the parade we went my parents house for some more fun times.  The kids wanted to get into my parents pool that they set up the day before.  So we changed them all and they went swimming.  Tony even got on his swimsuit in case Megan needed help.
Megan did not need any help at all.  She was plenty tall and did great with just having the ring floaty around her.

Josh started out with little floaties on his arms, but quickly took them off when he realized he didn't need them.  Josh loved playing water wrestling with Jacob for hours in the pool.  They were so funny to watch.  Jacob would keep pushing Josh into the water and Josh would keep going back for more.

All the kids had so much fun playing in the water and splashing all over the place. They must have played in the water for a couple hours before getting out to have some lunch.  The water looked so nice and cool on such a hot day.

Allie thought that the water was way too cold.  She only likes water if it's a nice warm temperature.  She got lucky to be held by so many of her aunts today.  Aunt Teagan was nice to hold her while I took pictures of the crew.
After watching her siblings play in the water, Allie got to play on the trampoline with her daddy.  She really liked bouncing around on the tramp and even had fun when Megan joined them and bounced all around her.

After lunch and a nice long nap Allie finally got to play in some water.  My dad put a tarp under the pool so a lot of the water had come out into a small pool on the tarp.  That little pool had nice warm water and Allie loved it.  We decided to just take off her shorts and let her splash around like crazy.  She had one very full diaper after she was done sitting in that little pool.

All the kids got back into the pool later in the afternoon, but didn't last very long.  All the other kids got out after about an hour but Megan was still going strong.  So it was just Megan, my dad, Wendy, Benjie and myself in the back yard when Benjie said he wanted a 4-wheeler ride.  My dad was very nice to take Benjie and Megan around the yard a couple of times. 

We decided to go to dinner at Chick-fil-A like we did last year.  It is a nice break from the heat and it lets the kids play on a play ground inside a cool building.  This year Julie and Kevin's families joined us.  It was a nice break up of the day.

After dinner the guys got out the trailer so that we could go on our family parade ride.  We all piled up into the trailer and that is when it started raining.  It was just a few sprinkles at first but by the time we got around the block it was raining pretty hard and the drops were really big.  Since it was raining my dad came back home and we all ran inside.   It was a fun family trailer parade ride while it lasted.

While it was raining we hung out inside and watched Averee open her birthday presents.  While we were hanging out Josh just climbed into my dad's lap while he was playing the tablet.  I am glad that my boys are slowing getting to know my parents better.

The rain and wind passed just in time to do fireworks.  We did fun parachutes, snakes, and Pop It's before the big fireworks.  The kids all really enjoyed the fireworks at first, but then quickly the girls got more and more fussy.  I took Allie into my parents house and she fell asleep while I watched the fireworks from the window.  Megan fell asleep in Tony's arms while the fireworks were still going.  After everything was done we packed up our sleepy family and came home.  What a great Independence day!

Bear Lake - Day 3

I am glad that I brought Megan some bubbles to play with at Bear Lake.  They were a hit with her and all the little kids.  She has gotten really good and blowing them all by her self.

The boys quickly figured out that they could all play Mindcraft with each other on their tablets.  They would sit by each other and play and those without a tablet would watch.  Normally we wouldn't like that they were on their electronics but since they were all playing with each other, it somehow made it okay.

Tyler coming up for more water balloons.  The kids all had so much fun playing games with the water balloons and getting all wet.

Megan having so much fun playing with the water balloons.

Most all of us from the Clark's and the Grover's.  Their were about 15 adults and like 25 kids all together.  Sometimes it was a madhouse, but for the most part it was really good and everyone got along great.

Our little family around the fire waiting to start roasting marshmallows.  I don't know why the kids look so sad, probably didn't want to take anymore pictures.

All the kids waiting to do s'mores.  They were all so happy to get their pictures taken. 

Tyler got two really bad bug bites.  He must be allergic to whatever bit him because it swelled up really big.  Their was one on his upper arm and one on his forearm.  They got really red, swollen, and warm too.  Luckily it didn't bother him too much but freaked the heck out of me.  Poor kid.  They both looked a lot better when we got home.

Bear Lake - Day 2

Josh playing in the lake.

Megan playing in the sand at the sandbar or "island' as the kids called it.  The sand was so nice there.

Tony dug out a hole earlier in the day at the island and when we came back in the afternoon it was perfect for Allie to play in.  Some other family came in and joined our island adventure but we didn't mind and hopefully they didn't either.

Tony and Allie playing in their hole.  So nice of Allie to share her little pool.  I decided not to put on her swimsuit in case she cried and didn't get into the water.  I did put on a swim diaper however.  It all worked out pretty darn good.

Tyler, Alex, Josh, and Jacob playing in the boat that the Blackwell's brought.  The kids loved playing in the boats.  Luckily the water is ready shallow so the kids were all very safe.

Alex and Josh on the paddle board.  It was very nice of Alex to let Josh climb on for a ride.

Here's a good look at what their island looked like.  The views were amazing everywhere you looked.  The water is really shallow all around the island.  So nice not to have to worry about the kids.

Adorable Josh!

Tyler liked pushing the kids around in the boats and did it for a long time.  So nice of him.

I sure love these two.  Tony was so nice to sit in the little pool with Allie for such a long time.  Megan got tired of the water before Allie did.  Tony ended up taking them back to the house for baths and Allie's nap.  I stayed at the lake and got a sun burn, so much for the sunscreen.

Bear Lake - Day 1

Tyler hanging out at the house at Bear Lake.

Josh making a sand castle in the volleyball court sand.

Megan loved playing in the sand.

Their was a water spout close to the volleyball court and the kids loved adding it to the water to make all their creations...and to get really muddy and dirty.

Tyler is way too cute!

The ladies hanging out on the deck watching the kids play

Ryan took our picture and got the kids around to jump in and be silly.  The kids had so much fun with each other!

Brandy, Kevin, Julie, and I hanging out.  Good times!

Splash Pad

Megan Got Stitches

Megan had to get 3 stitches in her eyebrow this evening.  She was playing and tripped over a toy and fell right into the side of the chair.  She cried pretty hard at first but then quickly calmed down when Tony said that he had to take her in right away to get stitches.  At first I thought he was over reacting, but then when I saw how wide the wound was I agreed.
Tony said Megan was very brave the whole time.  She was in good spirits while they waited and only really cried when they put in the stitches . She started out with just a whimper but then went to a cry after the first stitch.  They didn't put in the stitches that dissolve, so I have to take her back to see a doctor in 7-8 days to have the stitches removed.  Tony took her for ice cream after and she was very happy about that.  It didn't seem to bother her much when she got home.  I did give her some Motrin before she went to bed to keep her comfortable.  I am proud of my brave little girl and hope that she never needs stitches again.

More Pool Fun

The kids couldn't resist playing in the pool again today.  It didn't take them too long to put the water slide into the end of the pool and start the hose.  The boys really like the slide, but it made Megan fall under the water, so she didn't like it so much.  Too much water for her.
It's nice to hear them playing outside and not having them inside on the ipad.  The pool does look pretty nice in this hot weather even I am tempted to get in and cool off.

Our New Pool

We found a fun big pool at Sam's Club for a good deal so we decided to get it for the kids.  They have been asking us to set it for a few weeks now and today we decided to finally do it.  It is pretty big and even has a little seat in the pool.  Megan and Josh enjoyed playing for a little while during Tyler's school and then they all played before dinner (after the storm that came through).  I see many more days of fun coming out of this pool!