4th of July Fantastic!

Wow, did we do a lot over the 4th of July weekend. We saw our first parade! And collected lots of candy that Mommy will never let us eat. Good times!

We went to two BBQs! We got to go swimming, ride bikes, and play basketball at Grandma & Grandpa J.'s house. We got to play with our fourth cousin, Destiny, who I only met once a LONG time ago, and my brothers played with Grandma S. while I ate BBQ with Grandpa S.

Then, Grandpa J., Daddy, Uncle Brad, and Uncle Mike put up our new swing structure (for my brothers' birthday). Yay!

Whew, that WAS a lot!

Mommy's Family Photo

Thought we'd take a large family photo while Uncle Brad was up visiting. The last one was taken accidentally by Mommy when she was trying to push the timer. She thinks those ones always turn out the best, though.

My brothers got this play structure for their birthday from Grandma and Grandpa and we all love it!

Pictured clockwise: Grandpa & Grandma J. holding Ben & Gavin, Uncle Brad, Aunt Corrine holding Cousin Zoey & Uncle Mike sitting, Me, Mommy, and Daddy.

Little Monkeys and Uncle Brad

Uncle Brad is up from Southern California for the long 4th of July weekend. Yay! He came with us on a playgroup outing to the zoo on Thursday. It was so much fun! I had fun running from animal to animal with Drew (my buddy) and my brothers loved being able to ride and walk (with their monkey backpacks on) all around the zoo. Uncle Brad was good about showing them the short exhibits while they were in the wagon, so they could see animals well from their seats.

Cousin Zoey's Birthday Bubbles

A great time was had by all the little turning two year olds at the park yesterday. I was the big kid, but I had a blast even though the ball was taken away from me and I didn't get all the bubbles to myself. That's okay. I was still on my best behavior. Well, until we got home . . . a whole other story.

The order of these pictures is somewhat accurate. Bubbles, playground, bubbles, need more batteries for bubbles, bubbles, need more bubbles, bubbles, bucket on head, need more bubbles, open gifts, bubbles, swing, bubbles, play, open gifts, more bubbles, ice cream, no more bubbles, time to go home.

Happy 2nd birthday, Zoey! We love you!

Going bananas for, well, bananas!

The other night Daddy took my brothers and me to the grocery store. I got to play in the play area while Daddy took the twins shopping. The boys were chatting loudly and pointing items out with their twin babble talk. As soon as they passed by the bananas, Ben and Gavin started yelling, "Nanas! Nanas!" So, Daddy grabbed a few bananas, quickly bought them, and gave them to my brothers.

Later, in the back of the store, Daddy ran into an old fraternity friend, who upon meeting the boys said, "Oh, that was you guys I heard earlier."

My brothers sure love those nanas.

(Gavin's the one that keeps pointing the banana to Mommy and yelling, "Nana!")

Truffle Shuffle

Our first dinner at the coast was spent in Astoria for Grandma Joanne's birthday. We ate at Gino's which is located just under the Goonies house, so we had to visit. Mommy and Daddy both have stories about visiting the Goonies house as kids, but Daddy's story definitely wins. He's actually been inside! Daddy's Great Grandma Mimi dated the owner of the house, back when she was in her 80's, in the 80's. So, she took Daddy and Uncle Bob there when they were kids. How exciting!

Mommy took a picture of the elementary school where Kindergarten Cop was filmed as we drove by. My Grandpa Dennis went to school there! Also cool!

We stopped to get all of our energy out at a really fun park. Grandma Joanne found her name on the fence inside the Tot's area since she had donated money toward the new structure. Very nice!