Happy 7th Birthday, Riley Paige...

Riley's birthday this year was on July 19th, but we had
almost a whole weeks worth of activities!  First up was our
tradition of a candle in her birthday breakfast!

Riley is the only one of our kiddos with a summer birthday, so she is the only
one that doesn't get to open her presents first thing in the morning because
Keith is already gone.  This year I let her open a couple so that she didn't
have to wait all day.

After taking Gavin to Keith (he hates all things girly), we went off to get
Riley, Macey, and one of Riley's besties Taylor pedicures.  This was
Macey's first experience and she set as still as a statue.

(Blake looks thrilled to be at the nail salon, huh?)

(so boo-ti-ful!)
After pedicures and lunch with Taylor and her family, we headed home to
wait for Keith.  Then it was time to open the rest of her gifts (and an outfit
change.  =)

So excited to get more cheerleading lessons...this girl loves cheering!!!

And the day STILL wasn't done!  After that, it was off to Olive Garden
with the family for dinner, Riley's choice!  Riley specified that she
wanted Bella to match her.  =)

Riley had a great birthday!  Next up...her party!

The Lake...

Well, we have spent almost every weekend at the Lake
this summer on Mamaw and Papa's boat, but this year
something MAJOR has happened!  Gavin got up on
SKIIS!  And he did it on the second try!!!

(getting some coaching from Keith)

(thumbs up to Papa.  Ready to go.)

(getting all lined up)

(got up on the 2nd try...he looked so little out there.)
And Blake tried to, but couldn't get up...maybe next time.

Macey's favorite thing to do on the boat is eat snacks.  She doesn't even
care if she ever gets in the water!

Our 4th Of July Activities...

The weekend before the 4th of July we loaded up and went to
Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins house for their annual family
reunion.  It was 105 degrees and the reunion is always held
in the barn, which of course is not air conditioned.  Thank
goodness, he built a little room in the barn that he has air in.
That is where all of the babies and kids hung out.  The kids have
a new cousin (my stepbrother and wife's baby, Joslyn) and
Blake was the lucky one to get to hold her! (Blake refused to coordinate by the way!)

Blake had Joslyn smiling and cooing, and Hunter got jealous I guess.  He
reached over and grabbed his hair!  Blake is one of Hunter's favorites, he
didn't like sharing!  =)

Mandy never gets her picture taken with Hunter since she is always behind the camera.
This one turned out perfect!

And Macey climbed up on Grandpa's lap and showed us her silly face...

Then on July 3rd we had our traditional night of fireworks at our house with
Keith's family.  I love the kiddos in red, white, and blue.  We sure do make
pretty kiddos!

We shot some big fireworks, but with it being so hot and dry, we didn't do many.
The smaller kids were happy with sparklers, but pyromaniac Blake wanted to
keep going with the big stuff!

And then things got a little silly...I was trying to take more pictures and "people"
kept photobombing my pictures!  Kevin ruined my lovey dovey picture with
Keith.  =)

I did get some good ones after the others though.

Then on the actual 4th of July we went to the Lake all day and went to
some friends that night.  We love all of our Cascades friends.  The kids
just ran and played with everyone they knew.  We also had Bella with us
since Hunter had to go to bed early.  I didn't get many pics, but got some
of the kiddos with their friends...first were Emma, Quinncee, Riley and Bella.

Gavin, Mason, and Caden

 Ben and Blake

We had a super fun and busy 4th...now Riley's birthday and school will start
before we know it!