Independence Day Celebration 2014

We went to the annual 4th of July celebration on post yesterday.  A carnival was added this year, with $10 wristbands for unlimited rides.  We got three, since Maura was too short to ride but a couple of them.  She was so patient waiting in line with us so Aiden could ride them, and after he went on a few we took her over to the free little kids area which had a dozen or so bouncy slides and she had so much fun!  We stayed til the fireworks show was over.  It was a great event this year!

Parachutes coming down

Old Glory flying high!

View of the carnival from the top of the ferris wheel

Maura and Daddy as seen from the the ferris wheel

Aiden coming down the big slide!

Daddy and Aiden on the pirate ship

Whee!

This is her "I'm hungry and don't want to take a picture" face

Arrr, don't be stealin' me treasure, matey!

Maura spinning her fiber optic toy

Fireworks!

Level 2 Green belt ceremony

Aiden is now a Level 2 Green Belt in Tae Kwon Do!  There are 3 levels in Green, so one more before he gets to Blue.  At this rate he'll be a black belt before he's 9!!

Cheesin' before the ceremony

Awww...

Yikes!!

"Mommy I want to make a scary face, too!"

Lined up for the ceremony

With his instructor Mr. Ford

Throwing up their old belts at the end of the ceremony!

Cousin Theo's 3rd birthday

Theo had a fun 3rd birthday - complete with a petting zoo!!  Aiden and Maura had so much fun!  We played on Gramma Nancy's slip 'n slide the day before the party, then at the party they both rode the ponies a few times and petted all the animals.  There was a cow, a donkey, an alpaca, a couple of roosters and a bunch of angora bunnies!  Quite a sight to see on the front lawn!

Slippin' and slidin' 

Maura's turn!

Uncle Koob and cousin Theo on a pony!

Aiden on a pony

Maura on a pony

Aiden's last day of 1st Grade

Aiden "graduated" from 1st Grade today!  The school had their annual "clap-out" as the students left the building, so Maura and I went to watch!  He had a fabulous year, and is reading like a champ.  Bring on 2nd Grade!!

Front of his school

Waiting for brother

I didn't know his teacher was doing that until I was looking through the pics!!  She's not excited or anything :)

Going through the "clap-out"

Last day to say he's a 1st Grader

With his teacher, Mrs. Sanders

Memorial Day beach trip!

We took a short vacay down to Destin over Memorial Day weekend!  Other than getting sunburned we had a great time.  We could hardly get the kids out of the pool, and one evening we went go-karting and mini-golfing!  The weather was beautiful and we can't wait to get down there again!

Cheesin' in the pool

Had to stand over him so he wouldn't squint

Loving the waves

More cheesin'

Whee!

"Walking" on water

My kind of relaxing :)

I told her to make a kissy face

A boy, his shovel, and the beach

Makin' a sandcastle

Getting on Daddy's shoulders

He's officially a Green belt!

Aiden had his TaeKwonDo belt ceremony tonight.  He is officially now a Green belt (first level).  His belt has a white stripe in it, and the next level is a solid green belt.  There are 3 levels total in the green belt so he'll probably stay this color for awhile.  He is now going to be sparring and breaking boards, too!

Lining up

Ready to receive their new belts

So proud!  (That's his instructor, Mr. Bob Ford)

Like at a graduation, they throw the old belts in the air!

Easter egg hunt on post

The annual Easter egg hunt was last Saturday!  The kids had a great time!  They both had a chance to "hunt" for eggs (volunteers strew eggs all over the yard, not really hiding them at all!) and we watched a few ballet and tap dances, then got faces painted before heading home.  Maura was a hit in her smocked dress and "ears"!

Not sure why he put his hand on her head...but they're cute anyway!

Our little bunny!

Painted face