July 4th week cont...

The beginning of July my dad's cousins came to Iowa for their yearly get together. They have some kids, so Mason again had some entertainment, as did Mallory. For some reason I didn't get many photos, but then again, we really didn't see them as much this year as we usually do. Fred and Norma were married on Saturday July 4th, so that was partly the reason for them not hanging out at the pond longer, and most of them didn't stay more than 5 days. We had a great time and it always goes too fast....
Mason got Anna to go out in the canoe with him

Ryan and Mason in the paddle boat. Funny story. Ryan is 10 I believe and they were out there paddling around I think Ryan was ready to be done with it and he had asked Mason if it was ok if he got out. Mason said sure. So they went close to the shoreline and Ryan gets out. So this leaves Mason and the fishing poles in the paddle boat. Mason has no idea how to steer this thing let alone paddle it by himself. When Ryan was asked why he got out, he said 'Mason said it was Ok'. Needless to say, he got back in and paddled back to the dock.

My serious boys

Mallory just being Mallory... look what i can do for Aunt Kristin... an 'OH' face

Fred and Norma got married on July 4th. Course the weather had been perfect up til that day, and then it decides to rain off and on all day long.. til about 6pm.. when it cleared up, blue skies and perfect for an evening of fireworks. Their wedding theme was Hawaiian and they said to wear some Hawaiian attire. This isn't something we have in our wardrobes, so I went and picked up a couple outfits from the consignment store that were perfect for the occassion! So before we headed to Green Castle where they were getting married, I figured I'd better get some photos of the kids before they got all wet and dirty and weren't 'pretty' anymore!! Here is basically the sequence that took place next....

Somehow when Mallory decided to leave the photo shoot, Mason decided it was time to pose. So he brought out the senior picture poses... can't wait to compare these to the actual ones in 13 years!!! He's quite the ham

This was the first time I've attempted to paint Mallory's toe nails, and she sat still for me. Nothing like little piggies all painted up

Well, getting a family photo wasn't easy either! As you can tell in this one, Mallory is crying. She wanted nothing to do with the camera

BUT let me get down and play and I'll be all smiles

This is a picture of my dad (on the far right) and his siblings and their cousins.. in age order. My grandma and their mother were sisters and all of them basically grew up doing things together.

This is a picture of all the 1st cousins that were at the wedding

Here is the original Randall family...

Now add in some spoues and some kids....

Now add in my dad's brother and sisters and their spouses... and you got almost the whole Randall side of the family (cousin Amy couldn't make it, and I have no idea where Grandpa was)

Here is the Bride and Groom AFTER the actual wedding, when the rain had stopped. They had made a 'beach' of sorts outside, but since it rained, they didn't get to stand out there for their ceremony. It was still a great day!!!

It wouldn't be the 4th of July without some fireworks...

And some sparklers...

July 4th week

June somehow came and went. Mason had swimming lessons for 50 minutes for two weeks. This was the first time to take them and he loved them. He isn't as afraid of the water and doesn't mind going underwater now. He passed on to level two, which i'm sure will be more teaching of strokes and not just going underwater for toys and holding his breath! The weather wasn't the best, but it was never canceled, just a little cold a few of the days but the water was heated so he didn' t mind.

The last week in June my Aunt Mary and Uncle Marley came up from South Carolina for 11 day stay, so the kids and i packed our bags and headed for the farm to stay out there, since they were staying with my sister. Mason had a great time entertaining them and of course fishing!!

Mason goes in spurts as to whether he will sit and fish or if he wants to play. Some days he won't keep his line in the water more than 10 seconds and he gets bored cause the fish aren't biting! But not this day.. he was all about fishing, especially since Granny A was right by his side to help him take the fish off. He thinks he is big enough to do it and would probably try, but i can just see him putting that hook thru his finger, so we will let the grownups do that for now!!

Mallory of course had to get in on the action too!!

Wasn't long and then she thought she needed a pole too! So we put a bobber on the end of Mason's old kid pole and she had a great time!!

He thought the fish were biting better on this side

Marley and Pete were out on the pond for a couple hours.. pretty successful

Course Mason didn't do too bad himself on the dock...

Then the kiddos 'helped' them clean the fish!! This was the first time we have had a fish fry from the fish in the pond. We usually throw them back, but this time they decided it was time to start keeping the bigger ones and enjoy them! And boy were they good, and this is coming from a girl who doesn't like fish!!!

Photo catch up time...

So the summers go faster and faster the older ya get!!

One has a lawnmower and the other has the weed eater.. looks like we have a 'peeping tom' on our hands :)

They do get along sometimes

We've been to the park quite a bit this summer..this would have to be one of Mallory's favorite things to do there.. unfortunately, it takes me being right by her side, so she doesn't get to do it too much

This girl has no fear. Mason wouldn't go down a slide til he was atleast 2.. and she walks to the top, about falls down head first, and down she goes!!! Scares this mother to death!!

We had a playdate at a friends house, and the kids got to paint cardboard boxes that were put together like a house. Mallory NEVER even picked up a paint brush, but she came away with the most on her!! This is what it looks like when you go up and try and kiss the wall

Still messing around with trying to get photos and such uploaded faster... so will get more photos and such uploaded tomorrow...