The kids found several pits to duck into. Think of all the fun pretending!
Adam ran around the whole field like a squirrel on a wire, while I got dizzy trying to find my balance. This was not a place for the indecisive foot. You just have to GO! I am getting dizzy just thinking about it.
The only thing he wanted was this remote control airplane. Easy for me! No party!
I talked him into this cake. I just wanted to make it. Wish the ship part was longer. Hope he liked it. HaPpY bIrThDaY aDaM!
You can head up stream a ways and build a dam or spend hours skipping rocks. Adam is pretty good at skipping now. 
He didn't know I was taking his picture. I think he had fun.
The water was cold! Elli took one big plop up to her neck and it took her breath away.
Summer's sun kiss has turned her hair golden and her skin brown.
Last year, Amy's favorite thing was to float down on her fish innertube. This year it had a hole.
We had some old noodles and they worked OK. Not as fun as the tube.
Brrr!!
It's so hard to wait until the sky is dark enough. The park broadcast a little program where the fireworks matched the songs. The songs were not particularly patriotic, but classic American songs. It was good.
As soon as they start, the kids get quiet.
Then after a while, they start to play again. Elli hooked together glow bracelets and thought they were pretty neat spinning together.
I thought traffic was going to be bad, but Christina lead us to a secret location and we were home in no time. I can't believe it's the middle of July already.
Riley and I went early the next morning which gave us the afternoon to walk around. I wanted to go to the Holocaust Museum which is close to the mall. The main part was sold out of tickets, so we went through the kids section and got lunch. Maybe another time. I've heard it's really neat.
Then we took the metro and walked through Arlington Cemetery. Riley was so happy. Here we are at the top of a hill where one of the Generals had his house. Right before Christina took the picture, a very slow man walked right between us. She was even counting loudly, "ONE, TWO...", but he just walked right on by. We finally got a photo of Adam smiling! It was pretty funny. 
There was a good turn out for the first year! The weather was nice, there was plenty of room for frisbee and catch, and of course the fire was the favorite spot of all.
I'm not used to camping, but Riley assured me that all you do is sit around the fire chatting and getting meals ready while the kids get dirty and run around. That is what we did.
We broke out the mallows after an early dinner and everyone had their own roasting styles. Christina was pretty serious and must have liked the charred kind. I like a light golden, bubbly brown all around, then I lift off the crisp outer layer to reveal the gooey middle. Mmm.
Kids liked the fire too. We all went to sleep smelling like smoke and rubbing our full bellies. I don't know how many smores my kids had. I lost count after 3.
Amy found a rolly polly while the old guys made breakfast; hashbrowns, eggs, bacon and juice.
Come and get it! I think everyone had a pretty good time. I got part of the credit for putting it together, but really it was all Riley. Way to go!
The evening couldn't be complete without a delicious cake made by Sister Moulder.
Thomas and Adam celebrating their achievements. Jacob was out of town.
And the proud parents. Way to go, Adam!
Amy's fun friend from church, Taylor, had to move away this June. They have been in the same primary class since we moved in and love to play together. It was hard to see her family move away. Each Sunday before primary, Amy would cry and beg me not to make her go to class. She said she couldn't look at Taylor without thinking about her moving. Luckily we made it through. Good luck in Texas, Taylor!
Thursday was her first meet. She had 3 races and said the backstroke was her favorite. 
I think it's because she gets to start in the water rather than dive from the block.
She did so well! I was surprised and proud. She didn't seem nervous at all and can't wait to practice each day. She must get it from Riley. I am not comfortable in the water at all. 
Our friend Christina (between Elli and Amy), invited us to the Emmaus parade. The girls were excited because last year, candy was thrown at them from the floats. This year, the parade lasted for a total of 2 minutes I think. Seriously 2 minutes. There was a small band from the highschool and some scouts and old people and that was it. Not sure if it was the same parade as last time or not. A bunch of them tried to catch another parade in Macungie at 10:00, but we had some errands to do in Emmaus and I didn't want to hop back and forth. So we...
Adam was having a total blast, as you can tell!
Elli has been asking to go to this park for a while. It has a very squeaky merry-go-round that she likes.
Amy is the monkey bar queen at school, but was recovering from related blisters, so decided to swing, too. Thanks for getting us out of the house, Christina!
Someone around here needed a haircut. He actually wants me to pay him to cut his hair. So, I got mine cut instead. Now we almost match! I am not quite sure what I have done. That's all I will say about that right now.
Riley runs on a trail up in these hills and wanted to show us what he found. This green country is everywhere out here and part of why we love Pennsylvania. Imagine this in the Fall!
We started out on the trail in search of some buffalo herd that is protected 'round these parts. It was up and down and we almost lost Elli. She just didn't think she could make up one more hill.
We finally found them and they were large! Of course as soon as we get to the top of the hill, the herd headed down to the bottom. Elli's grumbling probably scared them. 
After catching our breath, the girls were ready for a photo. It was a nice trail and we got to bring home some momentos. We pulled off at least 20 ticks from Sandy and are still finding big fat swollen ones in her fur. G-ross!
