Fourth of July

I love the 4th of July- it's just such a great summer holiday.  It's so much more fun with kids and this year we had an amazing weekend.  On Saturday some friends invited us out to their adorable cottage on an island in Gun Lake for the day.  My parents offered to watch Henry so that Nathan, Tommy, and I were able to fully enjoy our day.  We swam, took a boat ride, fished, grilled hot dogs, had a campfire and s'mores, and ended the day with fireworks.  It was a perfect day with friends.  We loved it!

Tommy and Joseph with their fish.  Tommy was SO excited to fish and absolutely thrilled with his catch!  Between the 2 of them (with some help from their dads) they caught about 12 bluegill.

Another one

Here's the bait :)

This may be one of my favorite pictures ever.  Such a boy!

The boys busy fishing

Joseph and Tommy

Not a very good picture, but the only one I got of all three kids.  Molly, Tommy, and Joseph (the fish are in the bucket!)

On Sunday we had Nathan's sister, Julie, and her family over for a pool party in the afternoon.  It was a HOT day- perfect for swimming.  Here's Henry on his first 4th of July!

Tommy and his cousin Bridgette swimming in the pool.

The boys in their matching suits.  Unfortunately, this is the best picture I got of the two of them...

A fun afternoon- the results of which were drying on the fence :)  It's a common sight here in the summer!

Sunday evening we headed to my parents' for a barbeque and pool party.  Henry, Aunt Kristina, Aunt Sarah, and Tommy enjoying the water!

There are three great-grandchildren on the DeVries side; Tommy (4 years), Henry (9 months), and Ella (5 months).  As the oldest (and the only person in attendance who truly cares), Tommy is responsible for bringing the fireworks.  He takes his job VERY seriously.  Here are the fireworks all lined up in the order they are to be set off.

Waiting rather impatiently for the fireworks.

Tommy would step forward to hand the next firework to Papa and then run as fast as he could to jump in Great Grandma's lap to watch.  He kept reminding everyone to "be calm" during the fireworks :)

Eating cotton candy with his festive necklaces

Once it was dark, Tommy, Aunt Kristina, Papa, Mommy, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Trevor walked down to Whites Lake to watch the fireworks.  Tommy decided that he should wear all of the glow necklaces and bracelets at once.  We had a wonderful 4th and hope that everyone else did too!