Cousins, cousins, cousins

Chris and Stacy and kids visited from Colorado for almost a week
(July 14-20thish) and we had a blast. Hazel and Lottie were having FUN 90% of the time (other 10% were naps and brushing their teeth). They played together, ate together, slept together, and loved everything about this small vacation.

When it was time for everyone to go back home, Hazel was truly disappointed.
It was the first time we could tell she felt sad and moody, but didn't really understand why.
She just missed her cousins.

Gram has a HUGE tire she got from Collin and Tiffany that makes a roomy sandbox.

We took the kids to one of Kevin and Vicki's neighbors who offered to let the kids ride one of her beautiful white ponies!

She (Julie) explained the proper care and handling of ponies and then the kids got to brush the pony themselves.

While the kids were at work, the rest of us entertained ourselves in other ways...



Little Hazel Jayne. Love her.



Little Lottie would not get off the pony. She was the last to ride, so we took her for a shorter run and at the end, David reached up to take her helmet off and she grabbed it out of his hands and put it back on her head. She refused to get off! We let her go around one more time and then ride the pony back into the stable area. She loved this!



Covered in dirt and determined to stay on the pony.


Afterwards, the kids found a little play shed that had some dress up clothes. I'm pretty sure this was the first time Hazel ever held a play gun.
(I love that Sam and Hazel are Cowboy/girls and Lottie is a little Indian)

Who says you can't point and shoot with a flower in your hand?



Hazel officially wrote her name perfectly on her first day of preschool (8/16/10)!
She got some good practice on this thank you note to Julie and I wanted to remember it.
She struggles with those Z's.


We had LOTS of good food. David grilled up this monstrous pork loin that fed us for a couple of days.

The kids made dessert kabobs.

Beef, bacon, hot dog turtles. Yummy.


Butterfly snack bags. Found out how to make them here.

My mom gave me these awesome curlers that are easier to put in and sleep on during the night. Kate asked for them every night.



Bug rocks. (soon to be on my toddler blog)


Vicki gave the kids these bug nets to take outside. These two girls caught SO many grasshoppers together.
Hazel still talks about how fun that was.

Watermelon Popsicles; a new favorite.



One of the days we went down to the Hill Aerospace museum.



A morning walk...the camera and little Ellie were heavy enough for me. David took care of the rest.


Vicki made these "Nature Catchers" (also soon to be on the blog) for the kids to take on our morning walks.






I can't get over Hazel's face in this picture.
Thanks for a WONDERFUL family vacation.
We love you guys.