All Together Now

Considering we have not been home from Hawaii very long, we have sure been busy! We were treated to a fantastic stretch of warm and sunny weather, and nobody lets that go by without lots of FUN and FAMILY.

The girls talked us into a sleepover in a holy old tent in the backyard. I thought the mosquitos might carry them away overnight, but in the morning, lo and behold they were still here. (I didn't sleep much, a mama worries!)

Michael had promised to fly Penelope to our cabin, so they were getting ready to go, but she had one BIG request: Could she take Pluto, her Terrier, with them? Well her daddy thought about flying that stinky squirmy guy in his super clean Super Cub, and made her a deal. He could start earning his frequent flyer miles ONLY if he had a bath first. Soooooo

and this

and this poor glum face

he decided he had enough of the sudsy life!

Crazy dog. He did get his cabin trip though!

My sister went on a vacation and left her kids with my sister in law, so I invited them all over for a day on the lake and a cook out. It was so beautiful out, it screamed for a picnic. We got our paddle boat ready to roll and played back and forth between our shore and our neighbor's dock.

Anybody seen Dandelion? Oh, there she is!

How many cousins will this thing float? Ummmmm, I think eight is the limit!

Somebody has got to go! Any volunteers?

That's my girl! Go Chena!

Heading out to sea.....

Dandelion is wondering who's steering and where are we going?

"Okay, anybody who is not a dog just sit down, shut up, paddle the boat, and leave the decisions to me!"

Everyone ate hot dogs, watermelon, chips, dips, baked beans, and ended with S'mores in the fire pit. Yum.

The girl cousins asked me to make the boys leave them alone so they could "hang out and talk" sitting under the hammock. They look cozy, huh?

Lots of FUN. I was almost glad when it clouded up today and I got some vacuuming done. Michael had a buddy drive down from Anchorage, and the two of them flew out for a few days of fishing and guy time.

See you at the next picnic! You bring the ants.