July Rewind

As promised, I am trying very hard at blogging more and showing you a little more of what we've been up to this month.  We got to go home to Erie for the first time in FOUR years for the 4th of July this year.  Don't ya know, there were NO fireworks in Erie though this year...just our luck.  

We LOVE going downtown Pittsburgh and watching them from the North Shore, so no fireworks was a HUGE bummer for us.  Last year the kids and I sat right on the walk in front of the barges in the shadow of Heinz Field, right where the boats drop you off for Steeler Games.  It was soooo exciting for Fionn and Maggie.  It was actually our first trip (almost) as a whole family to see the fireworks here in Pittsburgh.  Daddy didn't quite make it back to us in time last year to see the fireworks...he got cut off when they started half way back to us, but that's another story for another day.

Okay back to this year...

Home.  We stayed with Mema and Pop-pop, I had a few sessions, but our big plan was Aunt Shelli's 4th of July picnic.  THAT is what we miss most living here in the burgh.  The family picnics and birthday parties where the kids play and the parents get to catch up!

The kids had a great time playing in the pools, sandbox and on the swing sets while we all had the chance to visit!
Maggie was bound and determined to get across these monkey bars.  Fionn didn't quite care that he didn't have swim trunks, he jumped right in the pool!

Somehow I didn't get a shot of the Bolte Boys and from the looks of this next picture, Fionn caught the pool right at a time when the big kids took a break!

Cate was busy being handed around to family we don't get to see that often, and I won't lie...I barely held her during the picnic!

Hope loved hanging out on the blanket watching those crazy brothers of hers play!  She had the cutest little 4th of July outfit on!

Imagine that, Fionn and Mikey found their way to the cupcakes!  LOL.  These two are so adorable together!  They def. keep us all hopping when we get to go home (right Mema?) 

Norah was writing her name with her sparkler! 
See those fireworks going off over there to the right?  They weren't the only ones.  The city may not have provided the fireworks, but the city sky was filled with them!  Look at that smile!!

Thanks for all the fun Erie friends!  It was a BLAST (hahaaaaa) getting to hang out with all of you!!