Happy Birthday, America!

This summer has been a whirlwind.  Each year goes faster than the last.  The kids are growing up right in front of our eyes.  Just yesterday I saw their school pictures from October 2013.  They have changed SO much just in that short amount of time.  Griffin has gone from being a "toddler" to a big boy.  Payton has grown and matured so much.  They each impress us, daily, with their knowledge and make us laugh with their silly imaginations.  They are great kids and we are so blessed.  I know I've said this time and again, but I wish I could slow time down.

Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks...

For the 4th of July weekend, we had friends in town, Katie, Todd, Kinley, and Leela.  We took them wakeboarding, to the sandbar, then to Julie and Mike's for the afternoon. Their girls are the sweetest, and of course, our kids were smitten with them!  I liked dragging them around behind our boat just about as much as they liked wakeboarding!  Good times, for sure! 

Sweet Leela-Bear napping on the boat

Kinley and Payton

Brian, aka "Cootie Guy," playing with P

My sweet friend, Matt, who had brain surgery on July 8th.  It was successful and now he's back home, recovering, and learning how to do daily activities again, such as walking.  I'm thankful that everything went smoothly for him and know he's going to be back "on his feet" super soon.

MaTTie!

Griffin with his new girlfriend, Kinley (he changes girlfriends every week, it seems...hope he doesn't keep that up!)

Lake Life...Payton, MaTTie, Kira, Blair, Kyle, and Carter

Yep, I'm afraid of heights

So I decided to do a backflip, so I didn't have to look down :)

I survived.  My little mermaid came over to make sure I was okay.

Stonie, Me, Little Juliet, Katie, and Julie

Katie thought it looked fun...

Supposedly Todd is also scared of heights.  Show off.  Hmph.

Someone else thought it looked fun too!

Daddy wanted to do it together!

So.Much.Fun.  And they did it again.

This was the beautiful sunset as we waited to see the fireworks.

I'm not sure what they saw, but it was good!

Say CHEESE Cootie Guy!

Happy Birthday, USA!

So that wraps up July 4th...but wait.  There's more, lol.  You know we don't sit still.  Ever.

I see you!

Payton and Carter

Chris was giving Payton ski lessons.  She didn't get up, but she got close!

Diana, Me, and Natasha...at Pier 49 during a huge rain storm.  We had a good time!

She jumped off the top of this pontoon boat over and over again.  SHE asked if she could jump with the big kids.

A better perspective

Ziplining

Stonie hasn't wakeboarded in years, because of her knee surgery.  She remembered how to do it :)  Let's go again soon!

My Monkey

Payton and Marley acted out "Frozen" while watching it

Reese and Griffin played along too..."Let It Go."  No really, just let it go :(  haha.  We've all heard that song SO many times!

Fun afternoon and night at the Blackwells!

The Kenningtons have their annual party on the weekend of the 4th, which includes sunshine, kids (lots of kids), lake fun, ziplining, food (lots of food), drinking (not much of this, though ;), and fireworks.  BOOM.  BANG.  POW.  It was a gorgeous day and we all had a blast.  Todd and Katie had been wanting to try camping with their girls, and this was their perfect opportunity.  House, electricity, and indoor plumbing close by.  Brian and Chris stayed up late.  Or should I say, they went to bed early (in the morning!) and had a blast.  Like two little kids having silly competitions.  Needless to say, everyone had a really fun day and evening.  Thank YOU, Stonie and Chris!  Everything came together perfectly.

Kim, looking like a "Stars Are Just Like Us" picture from US Weekly, lol.

Leela and Katie

Leela and Juliet

Stonie always thinks of everything...so after dinner, out came the shaving cream.  You've never seen kids having more fun.

Okay, well maybe not ALL the kids had fun.  Haha.

I love this picture of sweet Leela.

It didn't taste as good as it looked!  Yuck!

Kinley, you look awfully cute with a beard

You too, Carter!

Peek-A-Boo.  I see you!

Not everyone enjoyed the shaving cream "fight" equally...poor JuJu

Kerry, Dena, Stonie, Dawn, Me, Katie

Arranged Marriage

Dimples.  I love dimples.

They still (barely) fit in their outfits from Aunt Stonie from last year!

I gave the camera a rest and relaxed with the kids and friends for the awesome fireworks show put on by Brian, Chris, Michael, and Ralph.  Thank you, guys!  Another fun Kennington party in the books!

And if all that didn't exhaust us, surely a Sunday Funday would insure an early bedtime that night.  We headed to Thomas and Shiela's farm, in Gastonia, for the day.  It was a relaxing day.  Gorgeous and breezy outside.  The kids met a little girl, Griffin's age, whose name was also Payton, with an "a."

(Evil Laugh) Let's see what trouble I can get into...

The water was freezing!

But our little gentleman convinced Payton to get in with him.

She sure showed her appreciation!

Even She-She took a "dip"

Lauren (Payton's Mom), Payton and Payton.  HA!

New little mascots for "Old Crow Farms"

Hosts with the Most.  Thank you for the fun day, food, drink, and hospitality (and naps for the kids...including Brian, lol!)

The "normal" afternoons usually include pool or lake time, Carowinds, or just play time.  This afternoon we busted out the finger paints, stripped down, and colored the back yard (and backsides, haha!)

Like his Grumps, he wasn't a fan of getting his hands goopy...at first.

Wait.  This is fun!

Little Indian Princess

Callie and I enjoying one of our gorgeous lake sunsets...

Finally, our first day at Carowinds.  We have been busy and out of town so much that we've completely neglected the amusement park practically in our backyard.  Julie and I took the kids for a quick trip on what was probably the hottest day of the summer yet.  Next time, water park for SURE!  Payton and Marley are both tall enough to ride all of the kid rides and roller coasters, and some adult ones!  Griffin can ride one roller coaster, and most of the other kid rides.  Reese...well, at the age of not even two quite yet, she's still vertically challenged.  But riding in the stroller suits her just fine!

GRIFFIN'S FIRST ROLLER COASTER RIDE!  

Payton is on the inside left

I'm getting close to getting caught up on posting my summer pictures.  There aren't that many weekends left, which makes me sad!  I'm not ready for fall...yet. We hope you are having as exciting of a summer as we are.  There's still much more to do and people to see.  And Griffin is SUPER excited to turn THREE next month.  His quick wit and humor keep us on our toes.  Sometimes we can't believe the things he comes up with.  Three?  Our babies are growing up.

At his 2nd birthday party

July 2014...still 2, and holding.  Until August 9th.  Which he talks about.  A LOT. (At which point I'm threatening to do away with ALL Pull-Ups!  Payton is finally done with them at night, and Griffin is getting better, but still is determined to go potty on his terms only.  Sometimes he likes it. Sometimes it's better to poop your pants.  Just like a man ;)