4th of July...

This week at camp has been the most fun... just as I thought it would be. It's so nice to step back from "life"... no time schedules, no commitments, just peace and sleep... well.. sleep for Camille, I have other things to do. 

Each morning we wake up to this view. I do have to run back and forth to the farm, and take care of the big animals... but other than that... we are right here. Ed and Nate have been going to work together, but because of the holiday..it's already a short week for them. The weather has been grand, and I just feel so very blessed. 

But, it hasn't all been "just sitting around". The strawberries are ready.. so early one morning before it got too hot, Sadie and Abbie, Kassy and Reagan, and me... packed up and headed to the berry patch. We were hoping to catch up with Mom and Dad, but they had beat us there and were on their way out of the patch when we arrived. 

It's a very good berry year, and all the kids got right to picking. Reagan came last year, but was just a little thing and in the stroller, this year, he's on his feet. I have to say, we all did pretty well to be able to pick berries and chase after him!!!!

He did discover that if he sat a moment, he could find (and eat berries)... but he's a busy little guy and even that didn't last very long!!!!

Abbie, on the other hand, was quite happy to sit and eat berries. We tried to convince her to help with the picking, but eating was just way more fun.....

Because the berries were so plentiful, it didn't take us long to fill up our baskets and head back to camp. Good thing, because it was already proving to become a very hot day.......

Back again, it was right to the water. Danny is absolutely loving this time. He now runs to the water and hops right in......

the other dogs are swimming too... but this boy really loves it....

and as much as he does swim, he is often just as happy just sitting and enjoying the lake like this...........

I had to convince Livy that swimming was fun. Not so sure that she agrees, but since she likes to be with me.... she did give it a try. Hunter and Trev sort of felt the same way about swimming when they first began, and now they love it too... so, well have to see what Livy thinks later.....

Abbie is getting very comfortable in the water. and her goal is to do a cannonball off the end of the dock before the summer is over. She certainly has no fear of swimming under water and I think she is spending about as much time under as above. 

Kass invited her friend Jenny and her three children to come and spend the day with us. The kids had such fun together and the lake is always "better with buddies".... kids, dogs, water and a hot day.... you just can beat it....

Reagan has been funny this year, how much he likes the lake sort of depends on the day. Some days he is beyond happy to go in and other days, not so much...... but I guess that's how it is when your just a year old...

Jenny, her new baby... Kass and Reagan... enjoying a little down time after playing in the water....

Sadie gets a fire going.. because you just can't be at camp and not roast marshmallows.....

And the two little girls became very good buddies...... 

One little tired boy at the end of each camp day...... 

But "giving up" at the end of the day is just something he's not ready to do. Kass decided that bedtime was just not going to be, and would happen once "someone decided to crash".

Another morning, and after a good night's sleep, we have one happy guy ready to take on another day of fun.....

Can't wait to get out there. The lake is "busy" because of the holiday, so there are always boats going by. Our neighbors are up, so there are kids to play with, and the lake is just alive with happiness and fun....

The ice cream truck knows a good thing and (smartly) makes his rounds each day. Who can resist ice cream being brought right to your door.....

Robbie shows off his mini bike, and if Reagan could manage it, he'd be riding right along. These boys (our camp neighbors) Rob and Dom have grown so much over the winter, and it's always fun to see them each summer. I have to say too... they are the sweetest kids, and now being the "big" ones on the street... (used to be Kassy and Sadie).. they are so good with the little ones....

We had a cookout on the 4th itself. And a small baby shower of sorts... Catie is expecting her little one in a few weeks. Because of camp, we didn't make it to her shower, but I think finding presents at camp made up for that.....

Next year, we will have another little one at camp..... that's always good news to me.....

We decided to fry a turkey again this year. Sometimes its nice to get away from the usual hamburger/hot dog thing. Ed has this turkey cooking down to a science and makes it all look so easy.....

Reagan had to watch Papa from inside.... he was just a little too curious about what Papa was doing and we felt safer keeping him in.....

Not one drop of rain all week, and of course, today .. with the cookout and all the family here, we did have to put up with some showers. Oh well......

it certainly did not stop the kids from swimming.........

And between the over head tent and the house, everyone found a good spot to sit, visit and eat. Fortunately the showers were more of a nuisance than a problem... and we just had to dash inside once in a while....

Amy and Reagan have a little chat....

Lunch is ready!!!!!!

visiting with Beepa!!!!!!

And Camille helps put the giant puzzle together....















Perfect holiday... perfect week... and I take the greatest joy in every moment of it.....