Our very own mermaid

GG is now almost 5 years old. I can't believe it! 

 This summer she has just taken to the water like, well... like a mermaid.

 She still LOVES mermaids. One day she was swimming with her swim vest and the next day she wasn't. That quick.

 She is my very independent, very strong willed, funny (actually quite hilarious) little girl.

 Somedays I just don't know what to do with this child.

But I really don't know what I'd do without her. 

50 stars on a field of blue....

with stripes of red and white

our flag is waiting for you and me

it's colors shine so bright! 

The littles have been singing that song quite a bit this past week.

We stayed home for the 4th and just had fun family time. 

Daddy took the kids to the park for most of the day so I could clean and then I took them to see the fireworks. He wasn't feeling well so we let him go to bed early. 

Our town had a great fireworks display this year.

Hope your fourth was just as fun! 

Lately...

So lately we've been doing a lot of...

 Hanging out at the pool (it's HOT here!)

 learning to swim

taking family evening walks

 well, just once so far (it's HOT here!)

dressing up the puppy dog

being silly (but that's the norm around here)

 getting cute haircuts

NAPPING ( I love naptime!)

and really enjoying our summer.

What have you been up to, lately?

Because I've been really bad at blogging....

 here are some awesome pictures Sophie took on our little vacation

Camera Phone ... (or is it a phone camera) ...

Whichever it is...

here's a look see into our past week or so

 oh my Shep! he's all boy. LOVES to get dirty! 

 what a fun day at the botanic gardens with friends! 

 our new dining room table Josh and I stained. LOVE it! 

 Shep loves Matilda. he likes to pretend he's a puppy too.

 baking cookies! 

 this made my day! flipped a pancake to find this. :)

 Sunday morning breakfast with cousin Hattie!

 2 of the sweetest girls ready for church ~ love them~

 loved our table being this full for Sunday lunch - and how GG is always making some goofy face -

silly girls

 sweet Hattie Michele

 having fun at the park

 sweet Hayden Lee

what a helper he was this week! 

 sand box fun! 

 love from Sophie

 bouncy house fun! 

 Landmark Park fun! 

 attempting the zip line

 Shep and Hayden 

 WAR!

 Hattie lost her 2nd tooth! 

 Donuts for breakfast = WILD kids

 and then they crashed 

awww... poor Shep didn't want to see his cousins go

Neither did I :( 

I miss my niece and nephew

Can't wait to do it again! 

after a nice long nap :)