Return with Honor

After 3 long (but sitting in their house it didn't seem like that long ago) years, Grandma and Grandpa came home from their mission in El Salvador.  It was a great day for all. 

The anticipation

Hero's walk

Hugs

More hugs

Hugs all around

You get the theme

Is this what the Celestial Kingdom is like?

Cameron's Baptism

We survived losing power and a stormy night to attend Cameron's baptism.  It was a great service (Lindsey gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and crushed it) and a fun night. 

Cousins

4th of July Festivities

After pizza at Grandma Weez and Papa D's, we headed to the annual Madeira Independence Day Parade.  Despite the loud trucks, the girls loved it and loved getting candy and flags.  The next day (on the actual 4th), we had some outdoor water fun.  It was the first full-on water experience for Ash and she loved it.  She slipped and fell all over the slip 'n slide, and it was hilarious.  It never phased her.  We had a great time celebrating our freedom in this country!

Scrunchy face!

We take up a lot of space

The other end

Sweaty Chubbs

Our little patriot

Love those flags

Still not a fan of loud trucks

Snuggles with Mom

Love when they walk their dogs in the parade

Uhhh - where are 70 year old women dressed like this?

Ashley's first water fun

Sprinkler fun

I think they love it

Not really sliding, but slipping a LOT

She was kind of in the way, but everyone else made due

Success!

Alive at Five

The long anticipated fifth birthday for Anna finally arrived.  She's wanted for years to be five and to stay five forever.  Although she's backed off the "stay five forever" stance, she did have a great day!  Happy #5 to our sweet, cuddly, dramatic, hilarious but not funny, non-ticklish, yellow, sparkly, princess Anna!

She's 5, not 8, and gets her favorite for breakfast - donuts!

And she adds a sister

and another sister

but not a 3rd sister - she was sleeping in!

A few morning presents

Now her Belle will no longer have a fat face...for now

Anna was happy that she gets Mae's carseat

Magic Show

As you can tell - this was Anna's cake and not Mae's.  She didn't want cool whip on top of her ice cream cake - instead, she wanted puppy chow

Didn't I see that same burning symbol on Roswell?

An evening of celebrating

Sister, cousins, and grandparents

More presents!

A desk!

Sparkly "stickers" that can be used as earings

Belle night gown from the Poe's!

A chair from Papa D and Grandma Weez

Fun times with new stuff

Elena dress

The power of Elena

 A little late night bike ride in her Elean night gown

Brooklyn vs. her Ice Cream

The girls earned a trip to the Loveland Dairy Whip for good behavior.  In an ironic twist - Brooklyn got into a fight with her ice cream...and lost.  Or won...it's hard to tell. 

It was hard to find a spot where she wasn't soaked in sugary goodness

It was ALL dripping down her arm and leaking off her elbow

Last Day of Kindergarten

Mae was very somber that school ended.  She crushed Kindergarten though and is ready for 1st Grade.  Now that I'm posting this I realized after the bus picture and hugs - we forgot to take a picture up close of her.  Whoops.  We'll try again next year. 

Last drop off

Memorial Day 2017

We had a lot of fun celebrating Memorial Day.  We spent the early afternoon with our ward at Symmes Park for our picnic and then it was a touch chilly when the sun wasn't beating down, but we still got to the back yard for some water fun.  At the end of the day we are grateful for the freedoms to have days together like this because of those who went before and made the ultimate sacrifice. 

She could do this for hours

She loves the sand

She loves to eat - and grab your phone when you take pictures of her

Mae performing

#freedom

Water fun

They weren't out there very long