These are out of order..But Brenda hosted a "Cousin Camp" for my kids and Owen and Cole. It was loads and loads of fun....and loads and loads of work and sweat on our part. But it was so worth it. We had two nights and three days all planned out of activities and outings like: T-Shirt making, cupcake making, zoo trip, parks and picnics, petting farm animals, Mr. Gatti's, campfire stories and sleeping bags, the "Cousin Camp song" (which ER can still remember).....and there was more!
So in no particular order, and from three different cameras...here they come!

Mr. Gatti's dinner Dean puckering up for a kiss. Dean ADORES Owen. He calls him "Owie".

Cousin pile
I was tyring to get them to hold hands and walk together....Dean was trying to break the line

Cousin Camp with the creator of it all , Nana!
Morning cup cakes bake time! Only at Cousin Camp do you do something fun like that!
Brenda got them all matching shirts they decorated with their names on the backs

Random pics....ER doing dishes

Ryan took ER to "work" one afternoon. Which really was to a place they sell supplies. They always give ER popcorn and pop. So she thinks that Ryan eats popcorn and drinks sodas all day...

But just look at her! Seriously, what child would not be in heaven!

Ella Reese turned 3 in August. For months I would ask her what kind of birthday party she wanted. She would say "pink". I asked her what kind of cake, presents.."pink, pink, pink". So pink it was!
I made these little goodie baggies for the kids
pink princess wand and star lollipop
pink birthday cake with princess dolls on top..

We lost Cinderellas CLEAR glass slippers almost immediately. And the next day we lost Belle.
Pink streamers and balloons everywhere...and I mean I put those bad boys everywhere!
slip and slide fun plus pool action = happy kids!

Owen pulled a towel under Cole just in time for a save

I think Evie was petting Dean down the slide
Pizza....yum!
Sweet Evie

We had some Arts and Crafts time. They kids painted these clay animals

Got a pic of the Asian cousins since we don't get to see Evie very much at all. It just so happened that they were all also naked and in diapers...
Dean's model pose

And yes, his stomach looks like a teenager's...

Skinny and trim. No baby fat here.

These are from another time:

Some living room silliness

My how they have grown this summer!

Found them!

I have been searching for these pictures for a while and found them in my April archives. Dean loves to be poked in the eye by Ella Reese....I am not sure why.
It is too cute!
And of course Ella Reese equally loves to poke him in the eye....

Rest of July : Summer Summary Series

Wow is it almost October?!! Before I go on I must announce that we officially have a home!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!
We close Oct 16th. Long story short the house we have been waiting all summer on fell through. Thankfully God is sovereign and orchestrated all of this. We looked at a house last Sunday and by Tuesday night we had a contract settled! The new crib will be in Farrington subdivision off of Ebeneezer. Hip Hip Hooray! So until then I will be packing( and it will most likely take me until then to find everything here and pack it all up ...sippy cups and those annoying inserts in the sippy cups,..lost toys under furniture,...missing shoes etc...). October will be a busy month. Fall is my crazy busy season for the photo biz. But a good happy busy!

Here are pics all from one day when we were living with Sharon. I love these pics.
Dean and Ella were snacking side by side, which they do all the time. It is so cute. They just plop somewhere next to each other. Well, this time ER was noticing the dust in the air that you see when the sun beams in. She starting swatting at them and Dean- the copy cat- did the same. Then they just started laughing at each other. Melts my heart it is so adorable....
Ella Reese sinks down to the ground and Dean immediately follows...

ER's version of a cartwheel. She saw Alyson Hughes do one and immediately did this. Dean of course does the same thing, But his looks more like a dog lifting his hind leg to pee.jump jump jump

giggle giggle..tickle tickle..These are from another day when Dean was napping...

She is at the window and I tell her to please not play with the blind cord. So what does she do?...play with it .

This one cracks me up. She did this on her own.

I have pictures I took of her last summer with this same dress. Just reminds me how fast she is growing up....

This is a pic of an injury in action. She was going up the brick stairs and trips. Scraps her leg in several places. Poor ella...

We are inside now and she is telling me about her boo boo.

I don't know why but this picture make me laugh every time I see it. Maybe it is the weird way her eyes are in mid blink...but is is just such a pitiful and yet adorable little ella face.

Ryan comes home from work and she starts to tell and show him. Ryan leans over to kiss it ....

...which she stops him and tells him that she has a bloody boo boo and did not want him to have a bloody mouth if he kisses it. I wish I could remember exactly how she said it. It was so cute!

Random pic of Ryan washing his hands. My hard working hubby!