Playing With More Fire

Before heading over to a friend's house on the REAL 4th of July, we stopped by the fireworks store.  I have never been in one but WOW, it could blow at any minute.

We picked out some morning glories, poppers, and then THIS:

And this was was just $50.  Fire works are EXPENSIVE!!!


Props to photographers that can take good pictures in the dark.  It is tough!  And I couldn't quite figure out the best settings.  I just jacked my ISO up to 1600 or 2000. 

Then I had to be SUPER quick to focus when any firework was going off so that my camera could find something to focus on. 

Add in a 22 month old clinging to your leg because he thinks he's going do DIE!  Made is slightly difficult.  ;-)

I think this is my favorite shot.  You can tell that my camera was able to get good focus.  At least for being 9:00 at night, no flash, and super high ISO (which causes grain).

I love this one too....his little expression is so cute.  "WOooooW!"

I'm not sure who had more fun.  The kids or the daddies!

FOJ'11 (2)

More hanging around at the lake.  Lots of pictures....

Lillian was feeling brave and wanted to tube.  Not so much once she got out there.  I give her one more year before we let her get away with hanging out in the boat the whole time.  ;-)

Obviously, Olivia and Landon really enjoy tubing. 

Sunday night we shot some fireworks.  We had a couple of REALLY great ones.  We are learning which ones to get from the store!!!

We also got to hang out with sweet Ashley and meet her fiance Chris!!  SOOO glad to see them and hear their "love story".   Don't they make a gorgeous couple?

It's after hours that things really get interesting. 

And those are the only two pictures I can show ya! 

Na, we were good.  Mostly.  But is sure is fun getting all the adult couples and cousins together!!  Fun times!!!

Now who wants to get tickled???  ;-)

FOJ'11 (1)

It was a beautiful weekend to be a the lake.  We did lot of tubing (as usual) and Margaret (Walton's WIFEY) was completely initiated into the Rader family!  She thought we were gonna "putt putt putt" behind the boat when she agreed to tube. 

Robert was driving...I don't know what she expected!

Lillian and Walton watched safely from the boat.  Walton thought it was hilarious!

So fun having them around for a long weekend!

A little golfing on the lake.  Don't worry, no one shot at any boats or anything.  :)

Loving that little toothless grin.  He FINALLY lost his first tooth.  The tooth fairy got a big fat 'F' on dollars too.  We had to send him back in to "look high and low" for it.  Oops.

More to come..........

80 and 31

Over the long holiday weekend, we celebrated 2 birthdays at the lake.  My grandmother turned 80!  Wow!  Go Sugar!  And still going strong.  We had everyone together - even my brother and sister-in-law from Houston. 

Robert celebrated his day by doing none other than his favorite thing to do at the lake - WAKEBOARDING. 

My man is pretty good.  Check out some of these jumps he LANDED!

Yep.  Pretty hot, eh?  Now that he's "in his thirties" I'm sure he'll be wanting to keep himself young by learning some new tricks.  ;-)




Did you know you can just buy a helium tank and 50 balloons for $35??  That's a steal if you have ever gone to party city or walmart for them.  And I'm proud to say that NO ONE got crazy and inhaled any of it! ;-)

My sister had a great idea to print out these little card and write a few favorite memories of Sugar, hand them up, and then let her guess who wrote it.  SO cute and lots of fun memories we've had with her!

My uncle cooked some YUMMY burgers and we ate and celebrated her. 

Happy Birthday Sugar!!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT!  I love you!!!

Robert is NOT a gifts person.  So I took my mom's advice and got him something I wanted too.  ;-)  Great advice, huh.  So I purchased a Keurig for him!  I think we've both been wanting one and now seemed like the perfect time.

NOW, I just have to figure out how to get the best deal on K-cups.  I had my coffee couponing and sales down pat and never paid more than $2/bag for coffee.  So now I'm going to have to figure out how to get some good deals on K-cups!

ANYONE KNOW?  I've heard of using a Bed Bath and Beyond 20% off coupon, but just wondered if there was anyone out there that knows of a good deal. 


I have lots more pictures of the long weekend that I'll share this week.  We had so much fun we flat wore ourselves out!  I've stayed home all day today just hanging out and doing laundry!  Fun times!  ;-)