Red White and Blue Festival

 Mountain Home has a nice festival a few weeks before the 4th of July.  Miranda and I took the kids out to it, but it was blazing hot and they didn't have the pony rides this year. It was a little disappointing, but it did get us home on time!

 The balloon guy was amazing! This is Rylee's pink panther.

Delaney got a monkey.

Callie got a bigger monkey and named him "Embrace".

Did I mention how hot it was?!  Popsicles were a necessity

Callie was even happy enough for a photo.

Waiting for the cannon to go off.  (It was loud!)

This was too cute.  Ethan was sharing the popsicle with Alex.

The kids enjoyed this toss-the-beanbag game.  And it offered cool prizes, like cups and sunglasses.

Very cool sunglasses for some very cool boys!

Have Pond, Must Fish

 The 4 Musketeers spent a bit of time at the pond.  They made some fishing poles and used some real ones. Callie got a little inflatable boat for her birthday, so they put that to good use.

 Katie caught a pretty orange bellied blue-gill.  She tossed it back.

Callie with the home-made pole.  She took it VERY seriously.

Marian, cruising the pond, looking for the perfect fishing spot.

Hickory Park

 Every time we come to Mountain Home, the kids ask "Can we go to Hickory Park?!"  So we always have to go.  What makes it so special?  I'm pretty sure it is one of the last parks in America to have a real live merry-go-round.  They LOVE that thing.

 Much fun and spinning was had by all.  One or two little boys may have flown off....

They did get it going pretty fast.  We had to have big kid turns and little kid turns.

And all the small children had to climb on this.

Rylee was the only one who was happy for photos, so I guess this is her blog now!  All about Rylee!

Bowling with the Littlies

 Miranda and her 3 minions were with us the first week at the folk's house, so we had to keep busy.  We went bowling one morning.  The kids started (mostly) with enthusiasm, but lost interest halfway through.  My kids finished fast, and Miranda's team ended up with her an the smallest still hucking balls down the lane.  It was still a good time, and we were out of the house!

 Rylee's singular bowling style.

Ethan was too cute.  And took the ball return thing  very seriously.

Delaney as faster than the camera.  She did NOT want a picture.

Only Rylee let me take pictures!  This is her, leaping with delight after her throw.

"Take a picture of me!"

And then this happened

 Cousin Katie was mowing the lawn on the riding lawn mower.  Marian saw a snake trying to get away, so of course, she had to go catch it. Fortunately it was not a poisonous snake.  Marian claimed she already knew that.  I'm thinking she maybe just got lucky.  But I digress....

The 4 girls had a marvelous time holding the snake and taking photos.  And, well, you'll see.

He's a good sized snake.  Long, but not fat-bodied.

See, check him out.

Everyone had to have a turn.

Even Cousin Isabelle. (Who took most of the pictures, by the way, so Thanks, Isabelle!)

And then this happened.  Oh yes, the snake got to ride on the zip line.

Apparently he liked it because he went down more than once!