Fireworks (better late than never!)

We had the joy of seeing fireworks in a community that surrounds a lake. It's beautiful, to say the least; and we got there just in time to see them start! Perfect timing--no wait--when you're toting around a 2 year old and twin babies!

Addie talked about seeing the fireworks the whole ride out there. They were going to be BIG and red and purple and blue and... Paul got her out and put her on his shoulders. Within two explosions, she was begging to get back in her car seat in the car! So we rolled down the windows and let her sit in the car. Paul stood at her window, and I think she held his hand the entire time as she huddled in her seat!

Here are a few of my favorites, but you can go here to see the rest of them! Hope you had a blessed fourth (two weeks ago)!

(one of my favorites!)

a Fabulous Fourth

We started our 4th of July at Lake Jordan with the Becks. We all drove up for lunch and had a VERY relaxing afternoon on the lake. John-the-Beck had a new boat, and we were honored to be a part of the "maiden voyage." Addie loves being out on the water, although she doesnt particularly love the life jacket her mother insists she wear! But...she was very happy (as you can see below) laying in my lap.

Paul and Addie
we finally got her to keep those sunglasses on!

look at that head control! & chilling with Marsa, Kat, and John

Kat, John, & Paul taking a snooze

Addie taking a snooze!

Addie on the boat just "talking" away!

John holding Addie so I could climb out of the boat...he's such a natural!

and then we went on to the Castros in Wetumpka...
Tim's family was sweet enough to invite us to come swim (and eat of course) that afternoon before we all headed over to the Hunts (Diane's mom's house) for fireworks. Addie had a blast getting some undivided attention from Di (and Tim and Ann). She just talked and talked to Diane!

Tim & Addie & Di

oh...the many, many faces. i did fall in love with this picture! it's like she's saying...ok mom, enough with the camera, but I'll still pose for you!

Paul playing catch with Tim & Ann (Tim's mom) holding Addie

Piper, Tyler and Ellie's cousin

pretty flowers!

Ellie & Tyler

Tim launching Tyler across the pool! I love Ty's arm in the air...charge!

ok...so then it become somewhat of a competition of
1) who could make a bigger splash and
2) what cool moves i could manage to catch on camera!

Tim
um...can we say "flying squirrel?"

Tyler and Tim

Steve, Tim's brother

and then on to the Hunt's for fireworks...
Terri and Rob had everyone over for fireworks, a long time tradition! They had a lot of fun ones, and we got to see the neighbors around the lake as well.

Robin, Hayden's mommy, and Addie

Paul and Tim
Tim wanted to hold Addie "because Di had gotten her to sleep!" :)


Ellie, Di, Hayden, and Piper & Di, Addie, and Terri (Di's mom)

Addie loves fireworks...well, i shouldnt say loves. Basically, they dont phase her! (She had already "seen" some at the lake with the Wamsteds.) The only time she got upset was when I "screamed" (and ran) when one came towards us. After the fireworks started going in directions we didnt like (towards us), we decided to come inside and let the kids play.

Addie: "Oh the drama...that's a boy!!!"
Hayden: "What's the big deal here...i'm just chilling in my space!"

Hayden: "Mom...she's kinda a comfy pillow here! You sure it's ok if i keep leaning...and leaning?"

Addie: "Um, seriously mom. In a few years you're not going to want me anywhere near boys! He's in my space now!"

His and Hers

Hayden let Addie play with his jumping toy to see if she liked it. (she did :)

Hayden and Addie playing "together"
Hayden was so sweet to share!

look at them "holding hands"
...buddies!

Lake Norris...the 2008 Wamsted Family Vacation

On Tuesday, we headed to pick up Jay (Paul's brother/Addie's Uncle) in Atlanta and on to Lake Norris in New Haven, Tennessee to spend some time with Paul's dad's family...the Wamsteds! We were so excited for Addie to get to meet some of her cousins (well...1st cousins once removed) and great aunts and uncles!

We finally arrived at the "cabin" late that night. I say "cabin" because it held Addie's grandpa, 3 great aunts, 3 great uncles, and 6 1st cousins "once removed." It was a beautiful six bedroom house overlooking the lake. It was intricately decorated with carved wood, iron fixtures, and hardwood floors. There was a fabulous porch where we all spent a lot of time reading, catching up, and working! I know you say, "working?" ...yup! Check out the picture below! Having a kid (and being married) graduated us to a room of our own (vs. a couch, floor, or murphy bed!). We were quite thankful!

the view looking up from the lake

that's the actual front door... & the living room

the lower deck & our bedroom

Addie was a great little traveler, having only 2 major "blowouts" and a few major "blowups" on the road! We're learning a lot about how to travel with a baby (and maintain our sanity). Of course I took plenty of pictures! So heres...

...our family!
Addie in her jeans and little hoodie waiting for Uncle Ron and Cousin Katelyn to start the fireworks.

always new faces!

and our Vacation was all about...

...having fun

Uncle Jay and Cousin Duncan

Cousin Travis and Cousin Graham

yes...this is me and i'm still paying for it!

...experiencing new things

Addie swimming with Grandpa and Dad in her new life jacket

going on a boat ride with the cousins

well...this is Uncle Tom "experiencing new things"
playing with Addie's toy

...enjoying nature

the view of the lake from the house

down to the dock




some random pictures of rural Tennessee

...relaxing

Paul/Daddy and Addie & Anna/Mommy and Addie

chillin with Aunt Jan

sitting with Grandpa

cousin Graham & Uncle Jay

sitting with cousin Graham...look at that tummy!

...sleeping!!!

with cousin Annemarie & sleeping on the dock

sleeping on the porch with daddy

sleeping on Uncle Tom
(not sure Uncle Tom is really sleeping...but he had just swum across he lake...so maybe he was!)

Addie asleep & Addie sleeping on cousin Katelyn

sleeping on daddy!

...celebrating!

celebrating the birthdays: Uncle Jay, Aunt Millie, Aunt Pat, Cousin Duncan, and Daddy!

getting ready for fireworks (we stayed on the dock though)

...spending time with family

Addie with Aunt Millie and cousin Duncan

with Uncle Jay & cousin Katelyn

with cousin Timmy and cousin Duncan

waiting to go play with cousin Timmy and cousin Travis

Grandpa...otherwise known by Uncle Jay as "Peep Pop"
(we have yet to see what Addie will decide to call him though!)

Addie with her cousins (the 2nd generation of them):
Graham, Annemarie, Timmy, Duncan, and Travis
This is somewhat of a spontaneous (not planned) reenactment of a great pictures with Uncle Jay holding Graham when he was a baby with the 1st generation of cousins (Paul/Daddy, Katelyn, and Alan) surrounding him.

...working?

wait...isnt this supposed to be vacation? well, these ARE all Wamsteds! (count the computers out on the deck...that'd be 4 with at least 2 more missing!)

...exercising???
ok...so i couldnt figure out how to shrink the video we took and it was too big to upload directly to the blog...but click on the link below to view it in google video :)
You may or may not want to watch the whole thing, but we thought it was cute...it's a little over a minute long.
(the smaller you make the screen the better "quality" the video)
this is Addie "Jazzercising" with Uncle Jay
She slept from 9:30pm that night until 5am the next morning after this...
Addie and Uncle Jay