Donut Falls

This was a date night hike for just Dad and I.  It was nice to go out without any of the children.  I enjoy hiking with them too, but this hike at the end had some large rocks to scrabble up (if you want to go UP the waterfalls).  We had lots of fun doing that, something we wouldn't have done if we had brought along all the little ones.

Family Ice Skating

We decided to buy a family pass to the Olympic Oval so we can go ice skating together.  Who would have thought a family with so many little ones would be daring enough to sign up for that!?!  But, luckily they have 'walkers' for the little kids and also allow strollers on the ice.  Those two things makes ice skating do-able for our family!  The older three kids are pretty good at it and don't need much help.  #4 Boy needs to be holding onto something.  #5 Boy didn't want to even try (he was asleep when we got there so I can't blame him).  Dad carried him for a moment but we ended up pulling #6 Boy out of the stroller to let #5 Boy have a turn.  Maybe next time we will take our double stroller on the ice.

#2 Boy getting used to the ice

#5 Boy looking cute even if he didn't want to try skating

#6 Boy on the ice

#4 Boy got going pretty fast with his walker

#1 Girl speeding by

Indepedence Day with the Peanuts Crew

Enjoying our Freedom as the Peanuts

Charlie Brown

Snoopy

Sally Brown

Linus van Pelt

Woodstock

Schroeder

Lucy van Pelt

Peppermint Patty

At night we have a pajama parade around the house and down the street.  After that we sleep on Great Grandma's lawn.  

In the morning we get up to watch the band come around and go to the church for breakfast.

Here comes the Band!

Not too bad for a band that practices once the night before and most the people play their instruments once a year.  I think this year there were about 9 people from our extended family.

 After getting home I agreed to face painting....

Witch

Batman

Flag

Stars

Witch

 We went down to Grandma and Papa's for swimming and then came back home for a neighborhood BBQ and Fireworks display
We had some pretty crazy fireworks!  One landed on our roof, one bounced around the neighbor's tree and another one (that was suppose to shoot into the air) tipped over  and shot straight at three of my kids and neighbors.  They jumped up with the kids and ran.  I was across the street and as I ran to save my kids another shot passed hitting their grass.  Luckily they wrapped in a blanket.  It burned a hole through the blanket and burnt #3 Girl. 

After Dad had cleaned it up.

#4 Boy's ankle got burned

The next morning #3 Girl showing off her burns.  The first thing she told me when she woke up was, "My burn from the fireworks doesn't hurt any more!" But, she only wants to watch fireworks through a window now, and I don't blame her!