The great catch-up {Part 1 of 2}

June and July have been the busiest months yet for our family!  We kicked off June with a fantastic road trip up to Northern Kentucky, to the Creation Museum.  Our plan was to spend the weekend there with our friends from California, who were flying out to go to the museum as well.  

On our way up north, we stopped for lunch in Cumberland Falls State Park.  It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a lovely picnic close to the falls.

Above the falls.

Below the falls.

The homemade peach hand pies were a hit!

God's handiwork is incredible, is it not?

There was this hollow tree...

I thought this was a very Kentucky sort of scene.

Friday night:  The Beckers were due to arrive on the 9:00 plane into the Cincinnati Airport.  Delaney had to make sure their flight was on time. :)

By the way, the kids were COMPLETELY surprised!!

The next morning, Mrs. Becker surprised Mom in her hotel room.  She had flown in early in the morning, now it was Mom who got the surprise of her life!

Having just arrived at the Creation Museum, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the parking lot.

Jed couldn't pass up holding a Boa.

The Botanical Gardens had a few lovely bridges.

We took LOTS of pictures of these ladies.

This Zorse adored all of Hannah's attention!

Wyatt's head was also tasty, apparently.

Most of us agreed that the snake show was fascinating :).

I even got a new necklace out of it.

Meet Daisy, the 100-pound python.  She does have a head, but didn't hold still for the camera very well.

Hannah wasn't on this dinosaur's good side ;).

On Sunday afternoon, Hannah, Wyatt, Delaney and I went on their zip-line course.

Hannah was the first to jump.

Then me.

Followed by Delaney.

And last but not least, Wyatt.

Being the man of good taste that he is, Wyatt indulged in a HotLix sucker.  There was a cricket inside of this one.

I love these cuties.

Mr. Becker was adamant that this was the best way to take a group picture.  The camera survived the ordeal.

Back home at Green Acres, Libbey lights up the night with her sparklers from the fireworks superstore.

~Part 2 coming soon!~

A week with friends & Independence Day

Last Friday marked the 238th anniversary of our country's freedom.  The 4th of July is my mother's favorite holiday, and we made sure to celebrate it in our favorite way!  We were blessed to have the Nichols spend a week with us, so I will start the photos by going back to the days leading up to the 4th.  If you like posts with a lot of pictures, you've come to the right place!

This is the main reason why the Nichols came in the first place.  Mr. Nichols is working with Dad now!!  This is an arrangement that we are all very excited about. :)

While the dads pounded away on their keyboards, we kids were put to the task of moving a pile of rocks to use as riprap along our bank.  This will protect the bank from water erosion.  It was hot and we got dirty and squashed lots of bugs, but it was worth it.

One pile down, one to go!

Now we have fun!!

JUMP

We are sufficiently wet.

jump

The fun group ;).

And we know it.

An evening tube ride.  Here's a good pic of us before we get our arms ripped out of our sockets by a speedy boat driver.

A few days later.  We are making a home movie.

Whatever Delaney does, she is all there!

And then there's Michael.

Go Brazil!  We're all excited about the World Cup, so we showed our support for Brazil in appropriate attire. :)

Libbey's epic photobomb.

9-pointed star...

4th of July!  Our families drove to the waterfront and enjoyed a few hours watching boat races, seeing classic cars, eating pizza and getting hot in the warm sun.  

Beyer and Nichol dads and moms.

Our patriotic mothers!

Our dads!  Mr. Nichols at least wore blue and white. :)

And the rest of us.  Michael was a good sport, being that he was the only guy between 5 girls.  We all had a great time. :)

Lakefront walk.

Races.

Dad loves Mom.

Michael, Melissa, Delaney and I taking a break.

Later in the day.  Back at home, the guys burned a big pile of brush while we girls prepared dinner.

Happy people!!

Michele and Libbey being cute and wet.

Hot dogs are ready!

4th of July love.

Michael with Snippy.  Snippy is the stick.

Dinner is served!  We filled up on beans, hot dogs, fruit and kabobs before heading out on our boat to see the firework show on the lake in town.

"We should bring our shawl tonight in case we get chilled."

Michele and I waiting for the fireworks!  We kept ourselves well entertained. :)

This is a publicity photo from Watts Bar Lake's website, because I didn't take any of my own pictures of the firework show.  But this gives you an idea.  The show was marvelous (bigger than Bass Lake's and longer, just for a comparison) and it was amazing to see it from the water!  We all enjoyed it so much.

Glow sticking.  Libbey is well sprinkled!

Happy wonderful Independence Day everyone!  I hope y'all enjoyed the holiday as much as we did!  Does your family have a 4th of July tradition?