4th of July Festivities

Half the fun of having a 4th of July party is making red-white-and-blue FOOD :) :)

Grandma E's very cool flag kabobs

Claire joined Ally for the morning preparation:  pretzel sparklers!

  Shae made these delicious "lofthouse" sugar cookies (with decorating help from Paige and Wynne, and the sparklers turned out fantastic!  I just love 4th of July food.  (and my waistline shows it)

Many of Mark's family were able to join us, including his mom, grandma, aunt and uncle, 4 out of 5 brothers and their families.  Of course there were athletic competitions involved;)

 The two personal trainers have to take their shirts off.  Guess which one is the Digital Native (checking phone messages)?

 Time to pull out the big tarp and make our very own Slip-n-Slide.  Great-grandma got wet, but the kids sure had fun!!

Just like old time:  Siegert-Buchheit Basketball Game.  Only this time, Ally and Cy were able to join them!

 Look - Holly and her family came over, too!  Representing the Engelke clan were my nephew's wife and kids, sister Julie and kids, and Mom.

Wynne (7), Holly (almost 4), Lauren (3), and Shae (10)

 I actually joined this competition:  grass volleyball.  As long as it's not sand volleyball, I will participate. (I don't need sand to make me any shorter than I already am!)

Grandma Jan and Lauren (1)

 Holly and her little brother Logan had extra reason to celebrate:  their daddy was in Texas, finishing his deployment in Afghanistan!  They haven't seen their dad (my nephew Mitch) since July 24, 2012.

Doug, Mark, Paige and Cy enjoying cookies.  Mickey is waiting patiently for his party food.

 The kids cleared away some brush out in the pasture (by the neighbor's cornfield) and made a fort, we are told.  It is too darn hot for me to go out and venture through the bugs/brush etc.!!

 Morning after the party:  a little sluggish with fevers.  Mady and Lauren were very sick; Shae and Wynne fell ill that week, too.

Extended 4th of July:  Greg and Marin came for a visit a few days after!

 Tage is ready for the real deal, almost;)

Marin and Brock (1)

 Kierta turned FIVE on July 10, so we gave her an outfit that matched Wynne's. Too funny -- two years difference, but not much height difference!!

Next post:  My mom's extended family reunion (the Saturday after the 4th, every other year). Lots of fun times with family!  We are blessed to live in a country where such freedoms exist!

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.--Deuteronomy 26:11