Raccoon River Park

After storm clean-up we went to Raccoon River Park this afternoon to play in the water and beach area and the park. The kids had lots of fun, it was great beach weather!
Porter digging up some sand. Stella busy making a sand castle.

Swimming Stella acting like a goof-ball and Mike and Porter in the background.

Just a random photo of Porter from the other day! He dressed himself up as a Super Hero (I'm guessing that is what he was supposed to be!!!). He put his gardening gloves on his feet, a baby bib on his neck (for a cape) and a gun. Too funny!!!!!

Storm!

We had a severe thunderstorm pass through our area last night. I woke up around 2:50AM to the sound of high winds, rain and hail. Shortly after the tornado sirens started going off. I went downstairs to see what was happening. Turned the news on and found out that there was no tornado threat, the sirens were going off due to high winds (up to 80MPH). I decided not to wake the kids and take them to the basement since there was not a tornado and b/c it was 3AM and I really didn't want to get my kids up at that hour!!! They slept through the storm, although our power went off a little after 3 (was off for 4 hours) and Stella woke up around 4, it was pitch black in the house and she didn't know where she was and she was scared b/c she couldn't see anything.
We had two very large branches fall down and TONS AND TONS of big sticks and leaves all over our yard. Clean up was fun....not!! :) Patio chairs and cushions were blown off the deck, along with the kids' picnic table and some toys. One of our gutters got damaged, but other than that we came out pretty lucky!

4th of July at Okoboji!!!!

What a fun 4th of July weekend we had at Lake Okoboji!!!!! We were on the go non-stop and had so much fun with the entire Davidson Clan!! :) The 4th is always such a fun time for all of Mike's family to get together and spend time on the water and all over NW Iowa!
Stella LOVES spending time on the dock! Going for a jet ski ride.

Scott (Mike's oldest....and wiser!?!!?!?! brother) and Linda.

Chris (the middle child) and his fiance, Denise......who we all just met over the weekend. She is SO nice and sweet!! She was so so good with Stella and Porter, they absolutely LOVED her! Denise spent a lot of time fishing with Stella and playing with Porter. We are excited to have her part of our family! :)

Porter getting some cuddle time with Uncle Chris.

One of our favorite neighbors, Andrew, always fun to see him over the 4th. He brought his guitar up this year to play for us.

Another favorite at the lake.....the golf cart!

My nephew, Grant, at a park in Milford. Isn't he so cute!?!?!?

Stella and Grace fishing. Grace is 11.5 and Stella was her SHADOW the for 5 entire days. Grace was so good with her. They both L.O.V.E to fish and spent HOURS on the dock together fishing. Grace won't bait her own hook, but Stella will, so Stella puts the worm or leech on Grace's hook when needed! :)

My guys...................

Steve, Porter and Grace enjoying some dessert after dinner. Linda, Grace and Stella making Great Grandma Nelson's rolls. SO YUMMY!!!!!!

The morning of the 4th of July there was a little neighborhood parade we were a part of.....it was so cute and lot of fun. Linda (in the white shirt) is carrying Porter (in the red shirt) Stella is close behind in the white shirt and navy skirt.

A family photo of the The Davidson's.....with Stella!!!

The 5 Davidson Grandchildren....Grace, Grant, Guy, Stella and Porter. Another favorite pastime.....the hot tub!!!!! Gets a little crowded when everyone wants to get in! :)

The bonfire got *SLIGHTLY* out of control this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least it kept the bugs away!!!!

The evening of the 4th of July, doing sparklers with some of the neighbors.

Nora and Grace invited Stella to get her nails done with them the day before the 4th. Grace and Stella got matching patriotic nails done in red, white, and blue. Stella was so excited to go with her aunt and cousin to get them done.

We had so much fun and I've left out so much of the fun things we did!! But it is always one of our most favorite times of the year. :)