Reason to {Celebrate!}

July has been cause for celebrations for many years now for us...but this year seemed to add just a few reasons more!

The first, of course, being the Fourth!  We weren't able to celebrate last year due to the hot dry weather, but this year has been just the opposite with lots of rainy wet weather, yet leaving the evenings perfect to see the fireworks!

We decided to watch the local fireworks in town this year, and it was a beautiful evening!

...a little bit of rest time was a must before the late fireworks.

We also had gorgeous skies the night of the Fourth as we watched Dan set off a fun fireworks show from our backyard!

 

 

...and again a couple nights later for watching our neighbor's fireworks show from our backyard while we roasted s'mores around the campfire...

 

After celebrating the Fourth...we celebrated the second a couple days later!
The second month that Abigail was born!

It's hard to believe she's already two months old...and growing and changing so much every day!

two-month check-up

10lbs. 6oz.  22 3/4in.

...makes me sad too...

 

We love when Grandma and Grandpa and Great-Grandma Martha visit...they spoil all the grandkids!

They came to see how big Abby is getting...and to help celebrate Alex's birthday early!
Because this year Alex was excited to have his birthday on vacation in Destin!

Grammy, Aunt Nicole, Hunter and Paige came to visit us before our vacation too and brought Alex a pogo stick for his birthday!

closing his eyes to guess his surprise...he was right!

now these two can have some pogo stick competitions!

Hunter and Ellie swimming in the rain!

Paige & Abby- Lifeguards on duty, "No running!"

Before we left for vacation, we couldn't leave without spending an evening at the county fair!  This has been part of Alex's birthday week celebration for several years...and we couldn't miss it this year! 

Elizabeth couldn't wait to get on the rides...

Elizabeth wasn't quite tall enough to ride several rides...but Emily was such a great big sister for helping her enjoy a few of them with her...

 

...when she couldn't ride...Elizabeth would watch Alex and Emily, wishing she could go with them...

Abby's first trip to the fair!

And the fair just isn't complete if we don't eat a funnel cake...or two!

Finally...we left mid-week to celebrate our summer vacation in Destin, FL!

Alex waited all week...

a little beach walk with just me & my almost-eleven-year old

It's become our tradition to secretly decorate for the birthday boy or girl the night before...so we came prepared away from home as well...

 

...Alex was happy to wake up to his surprise party!

sitting in the Birthday Chair!

 

Since we didn't have a birthday cake...Alex decorated his own special Birthday donut from Krispy Kreme for breakfast!

we didn't forget the candles...but we didn't have a way to light them...

...but I hope he still got his wish!

I think Ellie enjoyed the birthday donuts!

time to open presents!

"Hey Alex, whatdya get?"

...the  moment where I think his wish came true...his own laptop computer!

...IU mousepad and wireless mouse...now his wish is complete!

Happy 11th Birthday Alex!

It was Alex's choice after a fun beach day where to have dinner and dessert...
Dinner at the Whale's Tail...a walk along the harbor looking at all the boats and big catches from the day...and ice cream from Sugar Land!

 

Just a few days later...it was our turn to celebrate our fourteenth wedding anniversary!

 

Not only is it hard to believe how old we are quickly the time goes...but also that we've been blessed with many laughs, challenges and such four awesome kids over the years!

 

I can't wait to share so many more...

Now that July is almost over...we only have a few more days of summer left to celebrate late bedtimes, late mornings and no schedules before school starts!