Fishing

A true fisherman

 He must get it from his Papa cause he sure doesn't get it from his parents

 looks like a keeper

Evie is obsessed with cheering- she had the girls practicing all week long

 I feel a fish fry comin on

 reeling it in is always the best part I actually even enjoy that part

 I think that would be a forced smile, she'd rather be cheerleading with Evie

Kekee vs Jessi

The sock game

I came across this game a few years back when I was trying to get ideas for Family home evening.   We played it with all the cousins and it was super fun and highly entertaining.

Kingsley lake

I grew up spending my summers at Kingsley lake and I am so grateful that my kids have the opportunity to spend time there every summer.  Mati loved riding the wave runner and Pili loved the tree swing and jumping off the roof of the neighbor's pavilion.  I'm telling you that girl is a thrill seeker.
This year was super windy but we made the best of it.  We did manage to get one good day in for wake boarding, but I'm not sure that it was worth since I spent the rest of the week sore.  I will try to be in better shape next summer.

If the kids weren't in the water they were on this swing

 the water was extremely low until Tropical Storm Debbie rolled in

Mom making her killer chicken salad

 Lu was on his best behavior the whole month, we even decided to reward him by not to neutering him

headbandz- this is a fun game but kids definitely need to be the recommended age which is 7

Matias adores his older cousin Davis.  They had plenty of moments for some QT together

 My baby has no fear.  Matias actually jumped a few times himself the day before but I didn't have my camera with me.

 eating Gator tail; He loved it.

Cedar River a family tradition.  My favorite FRIED GREEN TOMATOES!

Going to the movies, looking like sardines

 The kids took up a whole row in Starke's two screen theater.  I love it that the candy is only a dollar and it's cash only.  The owner is keeping it real.  The theater must be at least 50 years old.

 Leila's 7th birthday

 and Tyson was the lucky one to get the pie in the face

Bob's River Place

Summer vacation in Florida continued.  We discovered Bob's this year.    His river place on the Suwannee River has been around for 40 years.   I can't believe we just now spent our first summer day there.  It will definitely be a tradition for our family.  There's nothing much better than swinging out of trees into a river full of gators!!  No we didn't see any gators I think they stay far away from all the splashes.    The highlight for me was Pili going down the huge slide that shot you out 6 feet into the water.  It scared me to death but she did it three times before she had had enough.

Jessi forced Lucas down

 
Pili was happy to go!!  That's my girl!

 karaoke:  Hey, Soul Sister, Deja vu, Ring of fire

 Klaton jumping off the demon

 Klaton and Nico the only ones brave enough to jump off the Demon

 Jessi swung out and I jumped on to her when she swung back up.  We about gave dad a heart attack.

 shawn and Pili working really hard to get somewhere

rolling log- the kids loved this!

30 days back home in Florida

We left June 6th for Florida and spent a wonderful month there with my family.  I'm already planning for 45 days  next year.   Me and my sister Jessi were together the whole time and it was truly a miracle that we didn't have not one fight or dispute about anything.  Since I can remember she has drove me  crazy and it was nearly impossible for us to be around each other without a fight breaking out and not only verbal we've been so close to throwing punches over the last few years.  I am beyond relieved that I think those days are OVER!!  I thoroughly enjoyed our time together.
I hadn't seen my brother Klaton and his 4 kids for over 3 years and It felt so good to see him even though it was just a few days with his family.  I got so emotional just giving him that first big squeeze.  I got to know his kids and I just love them to death.  I do have the cutest nieces and nephews.  Georgie's kids were around quite a bit but not as much since the separation and now that the kids are living in Jacksonville with Leigh.
On our drive back we started naming all of the things we did while in Florida, and our most favorite thing which went something like this:

Mati:  Playing war with clams at the lake with Papa George.   Basically they spent over an hour on the 4th of July finding baby clams in the lake and then throwing them at each other.    Didn't exactly look that fun but I guess it was!

ME:  Buying Fireworks for the first time.  Even though we only spent about 70$ I was so giddy about it and I enjoyed the best firework show off the end of our dock.  The kids could have cared less about the 100$ ones going off around the lake and instead were so focused on the few 5-10 $ ones we had bought.  Nico was in charge and put on a good show.  Thiago and Davis were good support for him.
Dad promised next year he'd put in which means next year is going to be fabulous I can hardly wait!

Nico: Daytona Beach.  He always enjoys the beach and especially the slide at "The Cove"

Pili:  She didn't really know what to say but by the third week she had learned how to swim so I'm guessing Neannie's swimming pool was her favorite.

Now for some pictures of some of the fun memories we made this year while in Florida.

 Mati with Klaton's kids.  He and Blake seemed to hit it off pretty well though he loved getting to know all of them

 getting thrown in Neannie's pool by Papa a classic.

 Dad showing off for the grandkids

 stopping to by Boiled Peanuts.  Blake was eating the shell and all.  We left Lou in the car and he locked the doors and we were stranded for about 10 minutes until he decide to jump up and press the unlock button.  I was running around the car like a crazy person trying to him excited so he would jump around.  He's a good dog thankfully it didn't take him to long.

 Mati caught a frog and put it in a cup the kids laughed the whole way home watching it attempt to jump out.   It finally did and we didn't find that frog until the next day.  Still alive :)

 Seeking shelter from the rain- it was a very windy week at Kingsley lake this year

 Smore time

good times with Papa

 Davis and his tricks

 3 generations