Before and After

Our walls before....

waiting to be painted...

And AFTER!!!! I love this color!

our dining area after...

Our Annual Trip to La Push

The 6-Pack annual picture! We have joined the Langstons and Glassers for 5 years now in going to La Push-no "Twilight" did not inspire our trips! The Langstons and Glassers have been going to La Push since they were kids...and now we cannot imagine a summer without this time together in such a beautiful place!

All the kiddos

Family pictures are a tradition-The Ricco family

The Glasser Family

The Langston Fam

Nick had an awesome time boogie boarding-especially since Uncle Jared gave him a wetsuit!

Dom dreaming and wishing he could go on the waves...he is still a little too cautious!

The "big boys" just in from a ride!

The little guys

Some other big boys...oh, how nice! Friends helping friends!

Sand play-G loved being in the "volcano"

Shawn helping Dom with his whittling...

Heading out, waiting for the perfect wave to ride in!

Snuggling with my little lovebug

Serious volleyball bowing! Game on!

Congratulations after a game well-played!

Then came a little beach poker

and another game of beach volleyball-girls vs. guys...we are serious players if you can't tell!

G loves snuggling with her "Kels"

Warming up by the fire

Whittling away-preparing for the whittling contest...judged on creativity

The Shea family joined us the last night...look at all the boys! There were several games of beach football...activity all day long...so the parents could have their fun at night while the kids slept soundly!

Payton caught the parachute man while we were doing fireworks on the last night.

The kids lined up to watch Vinny light off fireworks...another great end to a wonderful time in La Push! Can't wait for next year!

Golfing and Baseball

Nick was invited by the Dungeness Golf Pro to play in the Mariner's Kids Pro-Am Tournament in Seattle. The boys had a great time playing golf with their buddies.

On the course

After golfing the boys (and dads) went to the Mariners game.

The whole crew enjoying the game...and the food!

Ready for the long ride home!

Fourth of July Extravaganza!!!

Our family at the end of the night enjoying fireworks...and there were tons!!! We did not even break into our $20 bag- except for a couple of sparklers!

Ready for fun!

Getting ready to go to the Tumwater Parade in red, white and blue!

One of our traditions is to go to the parade in Tumwater on the Fourth-this year Vinny took the kids while I got the house ready for the rest of the day...(since mom was away this year Toni and I took over her role-I realized it is not as much fun to be the hostess!!! There is a lot of work to get ready for this day...stuff I never had to think about before!)

Shelley and her beautiful girls!

Did you know this was the universal sign for saying it is the "fourth?"

Enjoying the action! Thanks to festive Auntie Jody, G got to wear this cute headband!

The Kissels enjoying the floating dock and having "important" discusstions about floating and sinking with Nathan!

All of the Langston kids

Multi-talented family: floating, drinking, dodging waterguns, and smiling for the camera!

Jared started the "Diaper Revolution" as he calls it! He showed the people how you can easily hold a drink in your hand and bob in the water by wearing a life vest on your legs, upside down.

Here are a bunch of "diaper revolution" followers!

Hanging out, drinking "mini-pops"

BBQ-ing following all of the afternoon swimming

This pool was a hit-although the water a very murky by the end of the afternoon!

Vinny was so happy to have his buddies out for the fun!

I was so happy to have my girlfriends with us on this day!

So happy my husband put down his cigar!

Dominic loved playing with his cousin Braxton.

Here is one view of the dock as people started to do fireworks-you can't tell from the picture, but there were 59 people on our little dock for the evening! WOW!!

There were several boxes of fireworks that were amazing!

I am so lucky to have such great sisters-in-law!

My girlfriends

G with her Auntie Toni

Cracking up with Uncle Dan

The Langston Crew

Gianna moved from Uncle to Auntie throughout the night! She soaked up their love and attention!

Watching the fireworks with Ab

Thank goodness we had a fireman here in case of wayward fireworks!

Dom ended his night on Auntie Jody's lap-it must be very comfortable since both kids rarely left it all night!

Finn biscuit on the morning of the fifth-what a great way to wake up after a long night!