It must be summer...

...and just like that...

Summer is in FULL force!

"holy moly kind kitties!" was it a hot weekend!

Rolli, Viv and me spent it the best way possible.

We drove to Yakima and met up with Grandma & Grandpa and all the cousins :)

Rolli absolutely loved the "big boat".

Cousin Hannah made him laugh and laugh as she dove under the water and splashed around.

Miss Sunshine Mae relaxing poolside.  

"Cheese!"

Temperatures where record breaking on Sunday.

And we sure could feel it!

Our family pictures where at 7pm, I was hoping it would have cooled off by then.

Oh', no!

That was the sweatiest, muggiest, mosquito-ie family photo shoot every.

 Of course there's nothing like a stop for frozen yogurt to put a smile back on our faces.

The 'Big kids' table.

The 'little kids' table.

Don't ask how Rolli got two spoons.

Vivian and Madison sure do watch each other.

All of the kids got to pick out their own toppings!

Yum!

Until Rolli and Caleb decided that ALL the toppings together wasn't so yummy.

Monday was just as hot.

Before the breakfast dishes where even cleaned up all the kids where out the door.

Caleb testing my Super Bubbles that turned out to be less than Super.

Vivian and Madison.

9am, playing with bubbles and eating popsicles.

That says summer all over it.

Now I can hardly wait till the Caryl Family Reunion this weekend!!

Backyard fireworks

I had forgotten how MUCH FUN fireworks are!!

...AND to add to the fun Daddy was home!!!

This was the first year since the twins were conceived that we bought our own fireworks.

First we introduced Vivian and Rolli to the quiet charcoal snakes in the fire pit.

Not much to these little fireworks but they loved 'em.

"AGAIN!"

Amy and Michelle joined us for our little 4th of July BBQ.

It was so nice to enjoy our backyard with friends :)

Then we took the kids to the next step...

Pop-its!

They LOVED these too!

Of course the fireworks just got bigger and better from there!

These two are trouble together ;)

... and I love them both!

Originally I had just bough glow-in-the-dark bracelets for the kids...

Rolli showing me his bracelets.

Popsicle-face-Vivian with her bracelets.

And then it got dark and the bracelets where no longer that cool.

So, like any responsible nurse/firefighter parents would do...

we gave our two-year-olds sparklers.

Burn to be just like his Daddy!

Michelle's sparkler show!

Vivian's crazy fast sparklers!

Now this is FUN!

Thanks Daddy for grilling and lighting our backyard fireworks!

Yep.

This little family L-O-V-E-S fireworks!!

Safety Smarts

Marshall and I took the kids to Rocky Reach Dam today for Safety Smarts!

Granpi Roger met up with and the learning (fun!) started.

Our first stop was the Wenatchee Humane Society.

Rolli and Vivian said "hi" to a few kittens and dogs.

Then Vivian picked out this little puppy nose for her loot bag.

Of course Rolli had to stop at the "ROCK!"

We watched the "on duty weed mowing goats".

The Dam's organic method.

Next stop was the fire department!

Cool engine, too bad the kids didn't want to play in it.

The Fire Safety House!

It's never too early to teach your children about fire safety and escape plans.

Rolli and Vivian where brave little obedient kids.

They followed me right into the mini house and played along well.

Rolli and Vivian listening to the firefighter teach us about "staying low" in case of a fire.

Everyone on the floor where the clean air is!

The fake smoke was coming in the room and the smoke detector was going off.

Only one little girl panicked.

"Stay calm, think clearly, act decisively."

All the kids even climbed out the window and down the ladder to the firefighters.

I'd say it was a successful first EDITH house course for Rolli and Vivian.

Grandpa Rollin will be proud ;)

Granpi and Rolli watching the linemen talk about power line safety.

Vivian and Mommy listening to the important safety rules about power lines.

Vivian and Rolli in the bypass pipe.

Here they are meeting Ricky.

Ricky is this remote controlled robot demonstrating bike safety.

Ricky was way cool!

At the Sheriff's booth Rolli and Vivian tried on life jackets and got in the "big boat".

Daddy taking the kids on a canoe ride.

I think they were supposed to be learning about water craft safety.

Rolli saying "hi" to Chase, the bear and cougar dog.

Remember to be "Bear Aware".

"Whoa!  A cougar!"

Rolli with Smokey Bear sans the costume.

Because of the heat we missed Smokey by about a half hour.

Those bear suites can be HOT!

Next time Smokey, next time.

Here's to a safe weekend!

The Dentist

Rolli and Vivian had their very first dentist appointment las Monday!

We went to Wenatchee Pediatric Dentistry and they were great!

I took the kids early just so they could have a little play time in the office.

As soon as we checked in both kids went straight for the toy/play area.

Vivian busy with the farm animals.

Rolli loved the slide.

Is this really the Dentist office?

The dental hygienist cleaning teeth :)

Vivian followed direction and behaved so well.

Rolli behaved like usual when it's time to brush teeth... 

I didn't even bother trying to get a picture of his tantrum.

And then the Dentist himself came in with cherry flavored gloves!

I'm not sure if Vivian was intimidated or in love.

Rolli just wanted a pink toothbrush and the pink gloves.

If only I had cherry flavored gloves at home...

The Dentist was happy to inform me that Rolli and Vivian both have healthy teeth!

See you next year :)

Cashmere Founder's Day!

Cashmere celebrated their Founder's Day yesterday... all day!

We only participated in the Ping-pong Drop and the Parade.

After nap time we zoomed to the every popular Ping-pong Drop.

"Whoa!!"

Rolli and Vivian waiting on the side lines for the helicopter to fly on over.

"There it is!"

Watching the helicopter fly towards us.

And this is what it's all about!

And this is also when all the other kids (and a few adults) went crazy wild!

Rolli and Vivian just stood back out of the stampede.

The idea is to collect as many ping-pong balls as possible and then go turn them in for prizes.

We didn't really care about the prizes.

It was just entertaining for us.

If you look close you can see all of the little ping-pong balls dropping from the helicopter.

A very nice little girl gave Rolli a couple of her ping-pong balls when she saw he didnt' have any.

He is such a lady magnet ;)

One ping-pong ball fell right at our feet and Vivian got that one.

But we didn't turn them in for any prizes... instead...

We headed straight for a BBQ with friends!

Then after our bellies where full of yummy food we walked to the parade.

Vivian and Rolli watching the very local Cashmere Founder's Day parade.

Vivian being Vivian with all her style and new bracelet the paraders tossed to her.

Beautiful evening for parade watching with friends :)

Thanks for the fun Cashmere!

Rolli's first haircut!

Just look at this handsome young man!

Rolli dressed and ready for his first haircut.

Notice the 'look' Rolli is giving the hair dresser.

Such a ladies man already... 

Sporting her nap head, Vivian had fun watching Rolli get his haircut :)

This poor girl just needs a hairbrush.

Rolli held still for the whole hair cut and didn't even flench with the clippers.

I'm in love with my handsome little dude!

And clearly he is still following in his Daddy's footsteps ;)