Fourth of July 2011

Wow, I'm way behind on blogging! Not sure how that happened (wait, I'm a busy mom with three kids, that's how!) but that's the way it goes sometimes. Summer is flying by around here, and we are trying to spend as much time as we possibly can outdoors in the sun and warmth. All too soon, these days will be long gone! :( Here's a quick recap of our 4th...

We were lucky enough to have the McGrath family visiting from California, and our boys were thrilled to have their cousins here for a visit! The whole Smith brood got together for lunch @ Grandma and Grandpa's and then had a fun outing of mini-golf and ice cream near Lake Minnetonka. The kids had a great time hanging out together and working on their putts!

leyton on the turtle sculpture at the golf course

the kids feeding the goats...right after a crazy horse on the LOOSE came over to say hi!

leyton and aj watching the ball go round and round...leyton could have watched this for hours

waiting in line to putt...ansel, isabel, finn, and brody

Our family had a bike parade/block party to attend that evening, and as it worked out, all the cousins ended up back at our house for the parade. We managed to find bikes for all the boys while Izzy took over "wagon duty" with the two littlest ones.

leyton showing his spirit

ansel, finn, and brody ready for the bike parade to start

ansel, finn, brody, gabriel, everett, and declan

izzy doing some decorating

on your mark, get set, go!

waiting for the whistle

callan and leyton being paraded by izzy

After the parade, the cousins headed off on their own 4th of July adventures while my crew stayed at the block party for awhile longer. And, as has become the norm on Beard Avenue, we got together with the Schwartz family later that evening for some fun fireworks in the street and a nice little s'mores roast! We were even able to catch the fireworks show over Lake Calhoun just by sitting in the middle of our street! It was a perfect view, and since Callan was already in bed by that time, it was nice not to have to drag the whole family off somewhere to see the fireworks. Everyone was beat after such a fun day, and we are thankful we were able to make such great memories with friends and family!