July 5th

we left home in the morning to go to David and Sue's to get Ean

but first we played and ate lunch!

then we were off to nebraska, car packed to the top with kids, bags, beach toys and a dog.

we got to my grandparents around 6 played, ate supper and light off fireworks

then I tried and failed miserably to put my children to bed so I went to the bar for some dukes with alyssa lisa jackson and ean and we sent text messages to a girl who gave jackson her phone number and who he met up with later to go see fireworks lol 

I remember Jackson and Alyssa listening to me on the phone with my boyfriend

Dashtyn and Nile playing!

lots of swinging on swings, and by your ankles 

 running after parachutes

  smoke bombs

  the annual tank races...wonder how many years we have been doing this?

I remember doing it as a kid

  jackson got first chasen got 2nd

Lily light off the grand finale

some special ones she bought! 

4th of July

 

on the morning of the 4th we ran a road race in Tipton

then Ean had to go to work, so the kids and I swam and played outside until firework time!

Ean ran the 5k and the kids ran around the track while we waited

 Ean got 2nd overall and ran his fastest time since graduating from college!
Chasen finished with him and got many comments on how "fast that kid was"

 

Chasen was registered in the one mile

Ean ran with him and Dash and I were along to take pictures.

It is the only race we've been too that had awards for top 3 finishers in the little kids age group. Chasen was in the 4 and under age group.

 starting the One Mile

 good form!!

 it was an out and back one mile and on the way out it was mostly uphill, I saw a kid in front of chasen and i was pretty sure he was his age, well chasen wanted to stop because he was tired and I told him he had to catch that kid to get a prize, he took off and never looked back!
I debated for a second weather I should tell him because I like him to run because its fun not for medals, because some day he will get beat!

 finishing with dad

Turns out Chasen did get first place!

But I was most proud of him for walking up all on his own (and you know how shy he is) to the kid he passed and he said to him "hey kid, good job!" :) 

Accepting His first, first place medal!! 

later that night Brad and Julie came over to grill and we went to the Mechanicsville fireworks

Chasens face is priceless in this photo.

It was Dashtyns first fireworks that he was old enough to know what was going on and he was scared sitting in my lap pointing and whining and looking around at all of us like why are you just sitting here, at one point he got off my lap and tried to hide :( 

then he saw Brad and sat on his lap, then he was ok, and started pointing saying ohhhh

 The next morning we headed to Nebraska for more festivities 

Sutliff Sunday

Im starting a new tradition, Sutliff Sunday!

lunch at sutliff bridge

cider and music at sutliff cider

and then wine on the porch at home

we did this last sunday and it was so fun!

first the Schaffners were down so we did some swimming!

they look innocent

but were trying to splash us

they look like they are about 30 talking about a long day they just had!

 music and cider and soft hot pretzels at sutliff cider

ahhhh Home :)

Balloon Glow

Last Night we went to Brucemoore mansion for the balloon glow!

There were sooooo many people

but we were able to maneuver around good because I wore dash!

Its the first time Id worn him since he was a baby, and he loved it! 

and we loved it!

we walked a long ways and it kinda hurt my back, but then when we had to stand in line FOREVER for food it was so worth it not to have to push a stroller around and he was happy on my back!

poked at and talked to a couple people all on his own too! :)

he was also happy to get out and wrestle

we ate our food, listened to the band, Dash danced, Chasen ate almost and entire funnel cake...and then it started to get dark and the balloons started to glow!

ohhhhhhhhh 

oooooowwww 

they were still lighting them up as we walked out, but it was wayyyy past bedtime!

It was pretty cool, Id never seen them that close up!

Now I gotta get Ean to take me on a ride in one....he's to scared though ;)