I love the Fourth of July!!!!!

The Fourth of July is probably my favorite holiday. I love all the parades and fireworks and just the general excitement around town as we celebrate the creation of this great country. I am so grateful to live in a country where we can truly be whomever we wish to be. We live in an interesting place and I know sometimes we complain about some of the strange people we meet, but I am so glad that I live in a country where such freedom of individuality and expression is not only permitted but encouraged. I'm just glad to be able to be myself and to live my life as I choose.

So anyways....my entire family was able to get together for the fourth of July this year and we had a wonderful time. The picture above is of my brother John and Claire, she looks so much like him. Claire instantly loved John when she met him again this month.

Here is Peter cheering Violet up for a family picture. Sometimes you just have to prime the pump with that one.

Claire wasn't interested in the camera.

Violet quickly realized that this holiday was about Freedom and stripped down in the yard...what a funny baby, we did eventually get a swim suit on her but not before she gave everyone a good laugh.

Here's me and Claire. We were just happy to be out in the sunshine, we did get a few good hours of sun.

Peter got to spend a few hours lighting off bottle rockets, he said it was one of the best 4th's he's ever had. I'm glad he got to just play for a while.

Claire and her Smore. It was just about bedtime and she went to sleep not to long after this. Both the girls slept through all the fireworks which is surprising because we were pretty loud!

Peter and Me had a great time lighting off fireworks! It's the first time we have been home for the 4th of July, we have either lived in Rexburg or Houston and haven't been able to celebrate in our usual way.

My Sister Diana and I with our giant Sparklers.

Today Peter had the day off and we got to go visit grandma and grandpa Corier. They have been traveling to visit our new nieces and we were glad to see them for a while. We also got to see the pictures they took of Allison and Kya. Both girls are adorable and Wesley and Sam are growing up so fast! We are really looking forward to seeing all the cousins when they come either in August or October, it will be so fun to have all 6 of them together! I cant believe that in 4 1/2 years there have been 6 babies born in this family....how fun!

This is the first year that Violet has had any experience with Fireworks up close. She thought the bottle rockets were so cool and yelled at all of them and she even got to try some pop its.

Violet got a new skirt from The Wilson Family. It is adorable and she couldn't help but dance around in it when we got home...I think we may have to let her sleep in it, I don't know if she will let us take it off.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Summer! Love you all!

Ellen, Peter, Violet and Claire

A week at the beach!!!

This is suppose to be in the middle of the post, but here it is. A picture of the blown glass creations. Next time I'm going to make one!

First of all I have to say congrats to my cousin Calvin! He graduated last week from Montesano High School! Go Calvin!

Diana and I took the girls to the graduation and party. It was a fun day.

Calvin also recently had a birthday and his Mom made him this booby cake. We each got our own "boobies" (Hostess snowballs) Such a funny family :)

Here we are with Calvin after the party.

As we were getting ready for vacation, Claire could hardly wait to go so she tried to climb out of the tub!

This week I got to take the girls and go to a family reunion for my side of the family. Peter wasn't able to go since he doesn't get any vacation days until next month so he stayed home and played bachelor all week. We took our vacation to Glen Eden Beach Oregon, which is about an hour south of Tillamook and an Hour north of Newport. It was gorgeous. On Monday we went on a 3 mile hike up to a water fall. The girls rode in my trail stroller the whole way there and Violet walked the entire trail back. It was about 3 miles round trip, what a good little hiker. The hike was gorgeous. It was a great way to spend the morning.

So we all know I love to take pictures. here are some of my favorite from our vacation to oregon. If you want to see the other 300 you will have to go to my facebook page.

We made it to the waterfall, the little boy in the picture is my cousins son Sam. Violet wouldn't pose for any pictures without Sam. I think it confused her to meet another little boy named Sam.

Pushing Claire over the bridge. We were caked in mud after this hike! I love my trail stroller!

I can't remember what this water fall is called I think the trail is called drift creek trail. It was a wonderful day.

On Tuesday we went to the aquarium. Here is violet in part of the swamp exhibit.

Claire at the touch pool.
Violet at the touch pool with Grandpa. She wouldn't touch any of the animals but she would put grandpa's hand in the water.

Violet loved the seal! This seal was scratching his back on the glass for a long time. The kids all loved him.

Shark Food!

Diana and I in the shark tube.

Violet did not like the shark tube, she was afraid of it. She spent the whole time saying "let's go!"

This is the view from our balcony one morning. What a beautiful place. I can't wait to go back!

Claire slept amazingly on this trip, there is something about the fresh ocean air and the sound of waves out the window that makes for excellent sleeping conditions. Claire woke up every morning with this smile on her face.

On Wednesday we went to the tillamook cheese factory. The girls loved the ice cream but the didn't care about the factory, we didn't stay long.

On thursday we went whale watching. We didn't see any whales but we had a great boat ride and we saw a lot of seals and sea lions. Here is violet and grandpa coming up from the dock at Depoe Bay.

Yet again....Claire Slept amazing at the ocean!!!

On Friday we just played on the beach and swam in the pool while my Dad and Diana and John went to blow glass, next time we go I'm going to blow some glass! Diana and John each made a beautiful float and my dad made a big orange bowl.

Claire liked to eat the sand.

On Saturday we went into Lincoln city and went to the kite festival. The beach was packed and it was so much fun! Violet danced and ran in the waves for about 2 hours and we had a great afternoon. We all got a little burned cause we were outside too long but it was such a fun day I think it was worth it :)

Claire sharing her sucker with Uncle John. Check out the giant squid kites behind them! they were massive!

Playing in the waves at Lincoln City.

Saturday we had the best dinner at this little crab shack. They catch the crabs in the morning, cook them in this big pot outside and give them to you with a shell cracker and a little digging tool. I was in heaven!
This is what the girls looked like sunday morning. Must be time to go home the girls are exhausted!!! It was such a fun trip and I think we are going back for Thanksgiving, I can't wait!

Just one more picture of our Kya. Ole Dad can never get enough pictures of our babies. Word is that Katie and Kya are home now and she is doing well. We are so thankful for our family, ain't life grand.

Love to all
OLE DAD

Kya Jean Flynn

Kya Jean Flynn born 12 June 2010 About 2am


She was in a bit of a guarded condition but she is doing very well now



She is so unbelievably awesome




What a happy family ,I am over whelmed its so hard to contain ones self, I don't know what to say expect we have been blessed I thank God for his goodness to us.

Love to all our children and grandchildren

Ole Dad and Mama the Younger

out of focus but still very cute





Sam in his domain and at ease, king in his castle





Sam at the water park, not to interested in the water, he must be a Texan



Howdy folks Allison



so cute and alot of hair really long fingers and all.





Baby Allison just about a week old




Wesley at the water park 93 degrees with 95% humidity Ole dad is a puddle of melted lard.

Itty Bitty T ball!

Just a quick note. We signed Violet up for Itty Bitty T ball today. We will get some schedules out the the grandparents and anyone who wants to come see something hilarious. The games will be every Friday starting July 9th thru August 13th, I don't have time or locations yet but I will let you know. The teams are for 3 to 5 year olds and it is suppose to be pretty funny. So more to come on that.

Side note, If you have anything funny to say send it to Katie we were thinking that laughing would start some contractions....worth a shot.