Saturday, July 28, 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Baby I'm a firework...

We had a fabulous two week vacation up in Coeur d'alene for the Fourth of July holiday. We decided last minute to make our first road trip with peanut at night -- and we were handsomely rewarded for our parenting wisdom with a sleeping toddler for the 11-hour-trek. We pulled in just in time for breakfast and got to watch the sun rise over the Montana hills. Michael was our fearless driver and Ellie was mollified by some snacks at gas station stops. Not a bad inaugural journey. 




Frankly, I don't think there's enough appreciation for naked baseball.

 Sunday best.


Apparently, the only dangerous part of lighting fireworks is lighting them while they are in your hand...sure glad there was none of that....  It's Mike's favorite holiday....


 A little tired for the sandcastle explosions...but she rallied for the finale...


And for fresh garden-picked strawberries...






Yep...mortars CAN be quite loud.



Couldn't resist making her a red, white and blue tribute tutu. We spent the afternoon at Dennis and Kelly's famous slip n' slide BBQ/volleyball tourney.



Ellie was super excited about the doritos...



 And grass...



And trampoline time with Shooshie...


 Even her sunglass and festive bikini...


What a pinup....


She was less thrilled about 'actually' going down the slip n' slide...probably because it rivals some island airport runways...but as brave young parents armed with a new gopro-camera...we would not be deterred. She survived three rounds on the plastic tarp extravaganza...not bad.


We had dinner at Nana and Augie's, followed by the Hayden Lake firework show. Ellie was looking styling (I kind of forgot CDA got cold at night...my Utah heat wave instincts heavily influencing my packing)...and she loved the fireworks.








When the show ended -- she gave us the sign for "more?!". That's my girl.


Ready for naptime on the dock with Nana.


Lounging ladies.


Going on a boat ride.



Out to CST Ring of Fire show.


Belly. :-)


Paddeboarding...note this was before I tried to pose for the camera...and subsequently fell in. Water was a bit brisk...but in a few days it warmed up enough for epic laketime lounging...




That's what you get for being on the phone Augie...she was all over that piece of licorice...




Skittle showing off her skills...


Oh, she loved the water! Really! Can't you see it?! We're mean...I know.... but it's good for her...right?



Me attempting to surf.

 Sistas'


This is the epic michael - shavasana...on the paddleboard...


cutest wedgie ever...




pre-sunday nap tickle time with Augie...


 Cousin night with the Griffitts...


So...when are we busting out those smores, huh?


Yeah, I don't know where Ellie gets her faces...complete mystery.


Some more belly love...



Aunt Emily teaching her all kinds of fun stuff...




So Ellie walks out on the deck with a bag of brown sugar in tow -- FULLY expecting me to dole it out as some kind of afternoon snack. ?? Yeah...like that's happening.


Thanks to both our families for a wonderful vacation. We loved spending time with you!