This ONES for you Steve!!!

FINALLY, my #1 Blog Fan will be excited to see that I have FINALLY posted pictures from our very fun Long Barn 4th of July Weekend! We had a great weekend with my entire family!

A definite highlight to our weekend was the Twain Hart 4th of July Parade. Uncle Steve entered his jeep into the parade for the first time and made sure he had the cutest FLAG WAVERS ride with him.








Tyler got to ride with Uncle Steve from Long Barn down to Twain Hart. What a fun experience for Tyler!!! This Jeep is extra special because it is from Steve's Grandpa. Then Steve in honor of my Grandpa painted his WW2 numbers on the front of the jeep.




"Bird hunting" first thing in the morning....


Lots and lots of swimming



















On our way to the parade we went to a Pancake Breakfast at Miwuk's Firehouse.




4th of July Night - We head to Pinecrest Lake to watch the animated movie UP at their outdoor theater.










FISHING WITH THE FISH HEADS!
We love fishing at the Twain Hart Ditch. Everyone was able to catch at least ONE fish this time!



The funny story about fishing this year - Uncle Steve sent out an email saying to bring POWER BAIT, SALMON EGGS and WHITE GRUBS for bait. About 1/2 throught our Fishing Adventure I realize that our Uncle Steve isn't using any of that bait - he brought SPINNERS! No wonder he was catching so many fish. I guess the pressure is really on to catch the 1st fish and the most fish when you are a Fish and Game Warden!!!













CLEANING AND GUTTING THE FISH...
Uncle Steve is a really good teacher. Two summers ago he taught Tyler how to Clean and Gut fish for the Fishing merit badge he was earning for Scouting. Now Jake is earning his Fishing Merit Badge and it is his turn to learn how to Clean and Gut a fish (I should say, he's been a pro at chopping off their heads for years)!








Fish Fry and Dutch Oven Cooking in the Marino Family Cabin!!!
Another part of the Fishing Merit Badge is cooking the fish you caught. Thanks to Aunt E for teaching Jake FISH FRYING techniques!






Tyler's Dutch Oven BBQ Chicken...

Devin's Dutch Oven Potatoes (well, really Tyler and I did all the CHOPPING for this)!


Michael's YUMMY Peach Cobbler....




Cousins eating smores...

I love SWIM TEAM!

For years, our school friends have been trying to talk us into join our neighborhood SWIM TEAM. I thought they were CRAZY! Who wants a busy schedule over summer and have every Saturday busy with a LONG swim meet (7:45am - 2:00pm). I finally caved in this year. Emily really wanted to do it cause all her good girlfriends have been on the team for 2 years. I never hear of swimmers breaking any BONES so I told Jake he needed to give it a try. So by default, Tyler got to do it too - heck, we were already going to be there so why not have him do it too!

I know this might be hard to believe (even for me) but I NEVER got a picture of ALL 3 FISH HEADS TOGETHER!!! The below picture is from their first ever Swim Meet in June. Tyler was at a Scout Campout. One of Emily's favorite things to do is write all over herself (and her friends) using SHARPIE MARKERS!


Jake practices are from 7:30am - 8:45am 5x's a week.
Emily from 9:30am - 10:30am
Tyler from 10:45am - 12noon 3x's a week because he has Water Polo 4x's a week.

I have to say - this has been the BEST summer ever! My kids have not said they are BORED (well, I take that back. Emily said it I'M BORED once but it was a Sunday - the only day of the week she isn't swimming laps). We should have done swim team years ago. It is so much fun and such a healthy sport. I can't believe how many laps they swim during practice....wow! And swim team consists of the nicest kids and families!



Emily and all her school best friends. Swim team for Emily was a SOCIAL EVENT!!! We barely saw her during the Swim Meets - she was always playing with all her girlfriends and their little sisters!


The REAL reason why the boys liked Swim Team - The Mister Softie ice cream truck!


Emily posing with Grandpa after she won 1st place in her heat for Breatstroke.




Tyler doing the backstroke.












Emily and her girlfriends cheering on Jake!!!!


Jake winning 1st place for Breastroke.


Jake told me to post this picture of his NICEEEEEE bottom!


Here's Emily (pink cap) doing the BUTTERFLY. This is the hardest stroke to learn.


Here is Emily getting read for her free style heat. Her coach kneeling down next to her with the orange shoes is Brian Tucker. If you can believe it, Brian and I have been friends since High School.


Emily won 1st in her heat for free style.


Here's Emily getting ready for the backstroke. I love watching her do the backstroke cause she SMILES the whole way across the pool!