Ava has finally started riding her little bike. She loves wearing her helmet and needed to have a kitty tail on this particular day. Ava needs to be closely supervised due to her tight corner taking and tipping over. 
Lydia has been riding her bike like a pro for years. She likes riding around Grandma and Grandpa's circle drive next door and then flying down the hill back to our house. She makes her mom very nervous.
We took an evening pontoon cruise on Forest Lake and ate dinner. This one is Ava and Aunty Bee snuggling during our three hour tour.
4th of July weeked, Chad took a break from the house and accompanied the family to the cabin for the weekend. Ava is making her usual funny face while sitting with Grandma Reen on the pontoon. It wound up being a great weekend and a well deserved break for all of us. 
Lydia and Chad went tubing together. Lydia's courage is growing more and more each day. By the end of the weekend, she was tubing by herself and swimming like a crazy lady. We all decided to jump off the pontoon in the middle of the lake and cool off. The girls are really comfortable with their life jackets and will swim anywear we let them. 
As usual, the fireworks were a pleanty in Cumberland over the 4th of July weekend. The girls each got their own 3D fireworks sunglasses for viewing the shows in the evening. Here they are sporting their matching 4th of July shirts, (thanks to grandma) and their glasses. 
Lydia and Ava had fun entertaining Grandma Hazel at our cousins wedding. As usual, everyone had a blast!
Lydia had another birthday party with her friends this year at her Grandma Renee's house. This is her opening her presents.
We took the girls to the Lindstrom park. They were playing house on the playground equipment.
We poured the front porch cement and decided to get the girls handprints in there. Here's Lydia and Chad getting full of cement.
Ava thought it was pretty cool to get into the cement after being told to stay away from it all day. 
Here are the two prints. Mom found a nail and wrote their names and the date in underneath.
Jacquie and I took the girls to the Como Zoo. The girls had a blast looking at all the animals and having a picnic. Afterwards we rode the Merry Go Round. We didn't know what to expect, but the girls had a blast. Ava did not want to get off at the end. Next time!
Lydia and Ava are standing in front of a white goat. (in the background)
Another day outing lead us girls to Osceola. We picniced in a park and then headed over to the waterfall. This picture was taken before our long walk down the stairs.
Lydia and Ava standing in front of the waterfall. They thought this was pretty cool and this year decided that they were old enough to go venture closer. We walked down and they went underneath and walked in the water. It was really loud!
We have not forgotten about our blog, we've just been on summer vacation!!!!! God Bless Summer Vacation!!! sorry...The drain field is indeed installed and looks great. We are currently working on growing grass to stop the erosion madness. SAVE OUR DIRT! 
The wire is being run, the heating/air stuff is looking good, we have a lot of electrical boxes and light switches-more than planned, and a ton of little stuff is getting checked off every day. We are pretty close to an electrical inspection and then a framing inspection. I'm trying very hard to pick out "the" cabinets to go in the house. So many options and colors... We did however decide upon a stain color for our trim and windows. Summer Oak was the color of choice and the windows are almost all stained! 
Jacquie & I took the girls out on a surprise adventure day for Lydia's birthday. We at lunch at Mc Donalds, went bowling and played in the arcade, then stopped at the DQ to pick up the cake for the evenings festivities and of course had a treat while we were there. 
Lydia and Ellie were resting between turns.
They're so cute! I can't believe she's seven!!!
