4th of July celebrations at Pearl Lake

Since the 4th of July was on a Wednesday this year we started our celebrations the weekend before! 

It was a short/ regular weekend for the parents - Lisa and Ed and Patrick and I were only there into Sunday... but the kids and Grammy and Buppa stayed into the holiday week. 

Grammy (with some help from TJ) set up a scavenger hunt for the other boys...

The 3 big kids took turns reading the clues. 

Lots of fishing --- though not a lot of bites. I think there was a group photo required because it might have been the only fish caught that weekend. 

More long hot days with TONS of swimming and running around - everyone was happy to chill on the couch and sleep in the cool Kid Cave. 

We celebrated the first of many Isaac birthdays --- he is a big Incredibles fan and even though he is clearly not a baby anymore - he has a lot of Jack Jack qualities - including the hair spike that just won't lay down and of course the endless energy and nasty habit of reappearing in different rooms after being put to bed multiple times!

He was a happy kid! 

The Rhyans were watching the weather as we really only had one night with everyone there --- thankfully they were able to get it in and we were once again treated to quite the show! 

The kids bounced around on the boat looking for the best seat for viewing. 

Family photo! 

Here they are pushing the raft off after igniting the VERY LONG fuse... 

It was an awesome show --- perfectly timed allowing for constant viewing pleasure and very few bug bites! 

Family photo in our Pearl Lake shirts - next time we are all together there will be one more kiddo and we will be visiting the Rubles in Orlando! 

Father's Day at Grandma and Grandpa's

The boys got to spend the end of the Edward Jones weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's in Fond du Lac and they made sure to keep the boys busy while we were away! 

They spent a bunch of time at Lakeside park - swings and playgrounds galore, zip cars, zip lines, train rides, you name it! My videos aren't coming through - but they definitely had a blast! 

Sunday we joined them and the Conlons met us there as well. 

The kids had a great time in the back yard -- it was a hot one, so sprinkler, kiddie pool, and squirt guns were all a must! 

We also took Carol's Find out for a family cruise on Lake Winnebago -- again, no one minded the occasional splash - it was really warm! 

Hats and life jackets --- check! 

Later, Grandpa, Patrick and Isaac went back out for a second ride and Ikey and Patrick did a little swimming. I love this picture! 

And this one we joke is where Isaac found his peace with God (- Lt. Dan - Forrest Gump reference)

Just happy floating in the water with the sun shining!

The day was so nice - it was hard to leave to go home - plus we wanted to stay until we were hungry again so we could go to Gilles for dinner! 

The boys zonked out - but I promised to wake them for custard... have you ever force fed a kid ice cream when they are half asleep?!? (I don't recommend it!) 

Edward Jones Weekend

Every year we look forward to the Edward Jones Summer Regional weekend - but this year the kids were extra excited because it was at Blue Harbor in Sheboygan and that meant WATERPARK! 

Plus, when we got there, we were given the keys to a family aquarium hotel room --- extra cool! 

The boys had their own space  that was painted to look like they were sleeping underwater in a lake! 

My highlight of the weekend was the spouses activity - segway racing! 

I have never done this before and was super excited to try it out, so imagine my joy when they didn't flinch at my growing belly and let me take a spin! 

It was easier than I expected and we all had a great time doing the obstacle course. 

The boys get to go to kids camp while I am doing spouse stuff and Patrick is in meetings --- they made hats, birdhouses and I think ate the hotel out of goldfish and juice boxes --- I won't be surprised if they start charging us next year :) 

We had a to run an errand and ended up at Walmart where the boys found these Deadpool heads --- too funny not to snap a photo. 

The boys had a blast at the water park - and thankfully they could do most of the stuff on their own since I was not allowed on the slides and Patrick was in meetings. 

I did have two incredible helpers that took them on they slides I didn't think Isaac could do alone. It was so wonderful and one of the best parts of the water park time! 

Isaac of course proved me wrong and later did all of the slides on his own - but by the end of the day had also gotten kicked off of the body slides and had 4 life guards jump in after him on the tube slides (he was totally fine, I was watching the whole thing and he was wearing a life jacket.. but better safe than sorry!).  He told me they said he couldn't go because he wasn't following the rules, "But momma, I don't know the rules...!"  (Its tough being a tall 3 year old!) 

Each night we had family dinners and bonfires and smores on the lake. 

They took very good care of us! 

Isaac and his buddy Hank 

James and Soph 

Clearly a great day when you fall asleep like this! 

We brought the boys bikes along to ride the lake path --- they loved it! 

I asked them to stop so I could snap a photo - could they have posed any better?!? 

We spent the afternoon at the outside pool (I honestly didn't know if we would be welcomed back (!) 

But the sun was out, the Tiki bar was open and the kids had a blast. Isaac tried my virgin Pina Colada -- going to need to keep him away from those once I am no longer pregnant - he downed most of it! 

Sunday morning we were able to enjoy a relaxing brunch with some of our favorite folks - all 5 of our kids got to end their weekend with their Grandmas and Grandpas in FDL! 

Thanks for a wonderful time EJ :)