Three Cheers for the RED, WHITE and BLUE


We had a great Fourth of July weekend. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was in the 90's and sunny. What better place to spend it than at the lake? We were joined by my mom, Ken, Stacey, John and their kids, Kelley, Elle and my Grandma.

The first night we had our traditional bonfire, green punch and s'mores. Stacey and John introduced us to s'mores made with Reese's Peanut Butter cups. Heavenly.

Ailey received a pair of antenna and a baton for her birthday from Stacey's family and pretty much looked like this all weekend.


It was wonderful to sit around the bonfire until late at night looking up at the stars and laughing with my sisters (we lasted longer than all the others.) It seemed like everyone was at the lake for the fourth and it looked so pretty seeing all the cabins lit up and bonfires on the beaches all around the lake.

The next morning we decorated the boat and got the kids in all their Fourth of July finery to participate in the boat parade.

Ailey as a little Miss Firecracker

Kameron as a cute Uncle Sam

Bryn wasn't thrilled about all the picture taking!!

Off they go

The this year the boat parade was the largest one I have ever seen. The rest of us cheered them on from the shore. Even my Grandma had a great time listening to our descriptions of the decorated boats that were passing by.

Reilly had us laughing as she was posing like George Washington crossing the Delaware with a big firecracker decoration in her hand as they passed by our dock.

Elle and Bryn slept through the whole parade. They loved being outside.

The rest of the day was spent in our swim suits enjoying the sun and the water. The water temperature was PERFECT.

River in her Fourth of July swimsuit

Reilly found an old swim suit of my mom's that she wore in the Miss Bonners Ferry pageant in the 60's and wore it most of the weekend.

Here she is doing her best "Bathing Beauty" pose

Here's Ailey's "Bathing Beauty" pose

Late that afternoon things took a sad turn for our lake community. There was a terrible boating/wave runner accident that took place two docks down (right in front of the house that was my great-grandparents.) A boat hit a wave runner and ran over the 30 year old man riding it. His leg was amputated from the shin down. It was very scary. Also awful...his leg was not recovered. I hope it doesn't wash up on our beach. He is lucky to be alive. The guy that was hit was a friend of co-workers of Tyler's. Thank goodness he is doing well. Scary stuff. There were so many boats and wave runners on the lake that day and most of the wave runners just cut right in front of the boats and are so annoying. I hope people will be more careful now.

By evening the festivities were once again in full swing. The kids had a blast fishing with John and Tyler. They caught quite a few fish. They went fishing the night before as well and their catch was stolen by a band of rascally raccoons.

We had a great fourth of July meal and the kids had fun decorating cupcakes. River sure enjoyed her's. :)

River and John

John and Tyler shot a bunch of fireworks off the dock for the kids and then the big fun began. Most of the family loaded up in the boat to watch the fireworks show from the middle of the lake. This year it was great as usual. The Canadians who stay at the resort down the beach from us bring lots of illegal fireworks...the great big good ones... and they are just as good as any town fireworks show. The rest of us watched from the dock. After the fireworks were over the fireworks began around here.

Tyler and John were given some "homemade" fireworks from our neighbor at the lake which against my wishes they had a fantastic time exploding. They are lucky they were both still in one piece as they blew up those stupid things. They would come running and laughing hysterically while the blast would shake the whole house. What is it with men and blowing things up? Needless to say they had a great time.

The next day we vacuumed out the dormitory upstairs in Lilac Lodge and now the cabin is all ready for all the family who will be coming and going for the rest of the summer. We enjoyed the water all day (missing leg and all) and headed home happy and exhausted.

Happy Fourth of July!! Hope it was great.

Some Things I Missed

In all the craziness of school getting out etc. there were a few things I forgot to document. Here are the one's I can remember...

1.) I turned 37

Look at this crew of kids I am a mother too!! This picture just makes me happy.

And I'm still in love with this guy...father of all the crazy kids!! Oh yeah...we celebrated Father's Day too. Wow. I'm bad. Our kids are very lucky to have this man as their father. Guess what our Father's Day celebratory meal was...tin foil dinners or "hobo dinners" as Tyler's family called them. Our kids thought they were spectacular!! Hilarious.

2.) Kameron had his 2nd Grade Music Program and even got to play an instrument.


Here's a part of his program. My favorite part is when he makes a small error. Classic Kam!! He is such a great kid.

3.) My sister Jordin and niece Jaylah came for a visit.

Jaylah is so darn cute!! We had a lot of fun with them...hanging out at the park, eating Thai food, and cramming tons of stuff and lots of kids into the suburban and heading out to the lake for my birthday weekend.

Kameron, Jaylah and Ailey at my favorite Thai restaurant

Hanging out at the park

Reilly attempting to get into the back of the suburban...with great difficulty.

4.) I got food poisoning... from stopping to get a veggie burrito on the way to the lake that day and got super sick and ended up missing my own birthday party. Lame.

5.) Reilly had her piano recital...broken arm and all.

She was a trooper...especially as this was the same day as her 6th grade promotion and the day before was her ballet recital and she still wasn't in her hard cast yet.

6.) Reilly was an MC at her school's Variety Program.

A silent ballet demonstration...very difficult on gymnastic mats... I didn't get it but then I'm not a 6th grader.

7.) Tyler got a vasectomy...don't worry there will be no photo documentation. :)

8.) Another marathon cleaning process at the lake. This last weekend the sleeping porch with it's two bedrooms, both playhouses, and grandma's kitchen and living room were tackled. Luckily this time it wasn't a mousefest. Grandma's house was in good shape and just needed some rearranging. It looks really nice now if Kelley and I do say so ourselves. This weekend we are just going to float on mats. I can't wait.

I know there were other things I missed but that will have to do for now because we are up to our eyeballs in swim lessons and projects; girls camp is coming up as is baseball camp.

So that's as updated as I guess I am going to get. Don't even get me started on how far behind I am on book reviews. Ugh.

Happy 5th Birthday Ailey


Ailey turned 5 years old on Thursday and she wanted to plan her own "day of fun" this year. She was in charge 100% of everything that we did. She did a great job.

We started off at our favorite downtown park. Ailey loves the carousel there and likes to ride it every year on her birthday. She rode it many many times. It is really starting to feel like summer. Lots of people were at the park and things were very festive. We ate Ailey's very favorite snack/treat POPCORN!! This little girl can consume more popcorn than anyone I know!!

Ailey, Kameron, and Reilly in a row

Bryn wasn't impressed. She slept through the whole thing!!

Then we were off to swim lessons at the YMCA. Both Ailey and Kameron are doing great!!

Next stop the mall and Ailey's FAVORITE store Build-a-Bear. This store is like a little wonderland to Ailey. She loves going there and looking at all the animals and outfits. It is a cute store and Ailey loves Christine that she got there once before so this time she decided that she wanted to get another family member for Christine (her ballet bear) but she couldn't decide if she wanted to pick out a sister for Christine or a husband!! She ended up going with a sister. Ailey picked out a dog that she named Sparkles.

Sparkles getting stuffed...

... and fluffed

Ailey picked out a swimsuit and swim goggles for Sparkles

All done and a very happy Ailey

Next stop...the DREADED...Chuck E. Cheese!!

Three very happy kids...and one sleeping baby sister

These pictures are proof that we actually let them come...Tyler and I usually try to avoid this place like the plague...and try to get them to go out for sushi or something. No such luck!!

It actually turned out better than expected. There is a new Chuck E. Cheese in our area and it is clean and nice. The pizza tasted better than it normally does and as we went on a Thursday it wasn't as crowded as usual. It really reminded me of going to Showbiz Pizza in Orem as a kid. Good times!! Tyler and I actually left saying that we had fun and needed to come back again soon. UNHEARD OF.

Then it was home for presents and birthday cake...and the BEST part of her day...listening to all her birthday messages from family members.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!! We love you!!

Attention All Relatives!!


Calling all Ellersicks, McClellans and Birches!! Close your eyes. Imagine you are walking from Grandma's house, through the mud room, into Lilac Lodge. Do you see the kitchen? Now walk carefully stepping over piles of junk and go into the living room. What do you see? Now...prepare to be amazed...you will not believe your eyes. Over 30 years of crapola is now gone from Lilac Lodge. I know you are shocked but it is true. If we aren't all dead from the hantavirus you can thank us this summer.

My family's cabin Lilac Lodge that attaches to my grandma's house at the lake has been filling up with junk for years and has needed a massive clean out. There are rooms that are usable and rooms that haven't been like the kitchen and living room areas of Lilac Lodge. Last Saturday my mom, me, Kelley and my mom's sister Marji donned gloves and masks and cleared out years of stuff that had been piling up. We took 5 loads to the dump, there is another full truck load to go, and a gigantic load of stuff to be picked up by Goodwill. The kitchen and living room are completely cleaned out. Imagine a usable kitchen area and living room in the cabin again. Can you fathom it?

It was an absolutely revolting job...and only took about 12 straight hours of back breaking labor. The four of us moved out so much old furniture and boxes of stuff we could barely move the next day.

Check out the mouse house. Truly. Can anyone please tell us why Grandma has been storing vast quantities of nuts in the cabin? This was only ONE cupboard full.

There were a few choice finds...like my mom's book bag from 1st grade. It still had her name tag on it. "Vicki Ellersick". So cute.

An old jock strap...don't know who it belonged to...but my aunt Marji is very brave!!

Reilly and Maklun did a stellar job of watching Bryn and Elle for us and managed to have some fun too. Check out the vintage clothes.

Looking lovely ladies!!

Gabe and Zeke did a good job of keeping Kameron and Ailey entertained. Poor Gabe is asleep behind everyone. We finally finished at about 11:30 pm.

Check out the new and improved Lilac Lodge:

Now who's up for tackling Grandma's basement? Anyone...Anyone?

Busted


Right before all of Reilly's big events...ballet recital, piano recital, 6th grade promotion etc. she broke her arm...on a field trip of all places. All the kids who participated in student government and safety patrol etc. got a "reward" field trip to Roller Valley. Apparently she takes after her mother and was not meant to ever have wheels on her feet because she bit it big time and broke her arm.

She was in a splint for about 5 days for the swelling to go down and is now in a hot pink cast. Just in time for summer. She should be in the cast for about 5 weeks. Oddly enough her BFF Noelle broke her arm the next day at Field Day. Same arm, same break...weird.

Reilly had her ballet recital the next day. She did great but she wasn't thrilled with the big splint on her arm. She said it ruined her "gracefulness". She also didn't love this year's costumes or choreography...not enough glamour. If you're not in a sparkly tutu why even be in ballet...right?

Reilly the poor unglamorous peasant girl!! :)

Here's part of her dance:

Reilly is third from the right

Look who we had to drag off the stage. Here she is taking her bow. She will start ballet next year and she can't wait!

Two Graduates


School is FINALLY out for the summer. June 17th was the last day and they start back on August 27th. That is one heck of a short summer. Before school got out though we got to celebrate two fun graduations.

Graduate #1: Ailey

Ailey with her teachers Mrs. Manning and Mrs. McDonald

Ailey graduated from preschool and is VERY excited to go to Kindergarten. She found out that she will have Mrs. Smith...Kameron's Kindergarten teacher... so she is extra excited to follow in her big brother's footsteps.

Ailey had a cute graduation with lots of singing...most of the documentation of her big day was in video form...not still pictures. She had a great year and a great preschool experience. I really love her teachers and think they do a great job. They were Kameron's preschool teachers as well.

Graduate #2: Reilly

Reilly with her teacher Mr. Nye

Reilly graduated from elementary school and we attended a great 6th grade Promotion Ceremony. It boggles my mind that she is moving onto middle school. Crazy.

The Promotion ceremony was really well done. Great musical performances, speakers, a neat slide show, and an impressive reception afterward. My mom was able to attend so that was special for Reilly to have her grandma there. Particularly as she sang a SOLO. There were several musical numbers and Reilly had a solo part in one. She did a great job!!

Getting ready to sing



It's a little bit hard to hear but trust me she did a fantastic job with her part


Grandma Vic and Reilly

Reilly and her best friend Noelle...trust me...these two are usually up to no good!! ;)

Reilly, Matthew, Mitchell and Noelle. Yep, these are the boys the girls think are dreamy.

Reilly, Kameron and Ailey all did really well in school, got good grades, were loved by their teachers, and had a wonderful year. We are proud of you guys!!