Fishing and snuggling

Skylar is on a trip to Valley Fair with her 7th grade class and JT had to go deal with one of the farms that had contracted the dreaded bird flu. So, the rest of us came up to the lake house for a relaxing, easy-does-it weekend.  We got our fishing license and the boys spent time at that, while Charlotta and I cuddled in the hammock.  Not too rough, right?

 

Then all three boys took the paddle board out for a spin!

Last Day of School!

The boys head out for their last day of school! They are pretty excited:)

A very happy FIVE year old!

She's only asked me for the last four weeks, "how long to my birthday, now?" A quick happy birthday breakfast before everyone has to head off to school.  Then Charlotta and I have the whole day to ourselves to go shopping, out to eat, get our nails done, go to the waterpark and go to Skyzone (that was her list, not mine, and I did NOT get it all accomplished, as she reminded me on a daily basis for a week after her birthday)!

  

I'm FIVE!

 Time to get dressed up like a birthday Princess!

 Party Time!

 A few mustaches to get the party started:)

 Waiting and waiting for her cake...

 

 Loving opening up the presents!

 Of course, she has many helpers.

 

Thank you for all the presents and kisses to everyone!

 

Opening Day at the Lake!

Well, the weather is pretty crappy, but that won;t stop us from getting in the water! Skylar and Avery take the paddle board out for a spin in the hopes that they will stay dry.

 

 Not so lucky!

 The hardest part is getting back on, especially with two people!

 Almost...

 And they're off!

 Meanwhile, Lotta and Brennen enjoy some dock time!

  

James and Kellen take the paddle board out while

 Skylar and Avery take a spin in the WOW!

 Brennen uses the WOW in a different way.

 

I LOVE this place!

Round number two!

Skylar gets her second set of braces--and is trying to kill me for taking a picture!

Annual Tulip Festival

Our marching band gets to play in the tulip festival every year, so of course we have to go and cheer on the band.

First we meet Curious George!

 Then we settle down with yummy dutch snacks for the parade.

 This girl was completely enthralled with the horses!

 Here comes the band!

 

 Then it's off to the rides!  Skylar and James ran off with their friends, while we tended the younger ones.

 

This is the face Lotta gets when she is being coy.

 

 Brennen loves the giant slide.

 Charlotta was very unsure, but she just had to do it!

I'm not sure about this...

 

Still not sure... 

 OK, maybe I liked it a little.

 Onward to the roller coaster.

 The happiest of boys!

 Kellen got to be the driver on the bumper cars.

 All of them loved The Hopper!

 The boys had used up all of their tickets and Charlotta had enough for one more ride.  They are looking on with extreme jealousy!