Patriotic Paraders!

Cutest little firecrackers!!

Wagon's all decorated and Danni was practicing her poses for the parade!

Silliness!

Handsome little patriot boy!

Yankee Doodle Danni!

I pulled the wagon all the way across the park... Danni approved of my hard work!

Smiling at everyone before the start of the parade!

Parading along!!

She kept yelling at me to slow down....

She'd Beast Face anyone who dared to talk to her...  And, she was fiercly guarding her fistfuls of candy!

I got a 'spin-wheel' ...

They had a giant slide at the street fair!

I almost got eaten by a huge shark!

She went down the big slide too!

I think she loved it!

Parading with Papa!

Post-parade gummi worm snack!

We took a dip in Papa's pool after the parade!!  :)

We celebrated the 4th of July with Papa this year in Ventura -- what an amazing trip!  The day started at the 'Push 'em - Pull 'em Parade' ...  we decorated our wagon and marched with a whole bunch of other kids (and dogs) down the parade route.  People threw all kinds of candy, beads, tiny flags, and frisbees - we had a blast collecting all of the swag!  :)  After the parade, we shopped the street fair...  We had a delicious lunch at Auntie Lynn's house, then went for a dip in Papa's pool.  After a looooong nap, we got to stay up late for a fun picnic dinner followed by our first fireworks show at Ventura College.  (Mommy didn't bring her camera!)  It was the BEST 4th of July we've ever had.... betcha this becomes a tradition!!  :)

Beachy Keen!

I willingly went into the ocean!!!  

The waves were COLD! 

Danni was more of a land-lubber...

Beachy Beast face!

She had a great time building sand castles on the shore...

I discovered that how to pop these!  (And also that they smell!)

Cheetos lip gloss!  ;)

A Mommy's eye view...

Tree climbing back at the campsite...

Trying to repair the teeny branch that I broke off the tree...

Taking Charlie for a walk around camp...

Tree climbing monkey!

Watching the sunset with our cousin...

Silly Beast!

My favorite part of the day!

She showed Daddy how it was done....

She devoured the whole thing!!  :)

I ate THREE!  :)

Uncle Paul and Aunt Kelly spent a week camping at San Clemente State Beach...  our family went to visit them for a day of beachy fun!  This was the first beach trip where neither Danni or I complained about the sand, wind, cold, water... anything!  Mommy and Daddy were pleasantly surprised!   I was super brave and actually went into the water (on my own -- without being bribed!!) ...  Danni stayed on the shore for most of the time, but she did dip her toes in a few times!!  After a few hours in the sun, we headed back up to camp where we grilled a yummy dinner, climbed trees with our cousins, went on a long walk, watched the sunset, then roasted marshmallows.  It was a perfect beach day!!!  :)

Fun in the Fountain!

Ready to splash!

Making sure that it's okay to go in the fountain in my 'real clothes' ...

She was a little hesitant too!  :)

Not for long!! 

The 'spitters' make me laugh!

Crazy water stomper boy!

'Look, Mommy!  I'm peepeeing in my pants!'  ;)

Danni and I love any kid of water fun we can find!  We spent an afternoon splashing around (in our 'real clothes') in the 'spitting fountains' at the Shoppes in Chino Hills.  It's an awesome fountain that spits water -- and it's synchronized to music which makes it super cool!  :)  Mommy didn't pack water-appropriate shoes for me -- and going barefoot in the fountain is not allowed.  Thankfully, Gymboree had some flip-flops in my size....  Mommy's impromptu water splashing idea got a little expensive...  but she said that our smiles made it worth it!  :)

Pampered Princess

While I was attending preschool last year, one of Danni's favorite places to visit was a cool little kids' salon called Sharkey's.  She loved the place and joined their hair club - entitling her to free visits for cuts, styles, and manicures as often as she wants for a full year!!  At least once a week, Daddy (or Mommy) would take her in to get her hair braided and her nails done - she is definitely a princess in training!!  Her favorite stylist is Miss Lori - she does PERFECT french braids!!  Something tells me that Mommy and Daddy may someday regret this!  ;)  

This was the first time she's had her hair washed in a shampoo bowl... she was a little skeptical....

Gossiping with her hair dresser ... in her favorite pink Jeep!  :)

Time for her manicure!!

Keepin' Cool at The Cove!

We were the first ones there!!  (Can you tell that we don't want to be standing still for  the mamarazzi?)

Making sure my life jacket is on tight!

Thoughtful Beast!

Tube slider!

The water was COLD, so she waded in gradually!

Sliding down the green slide!

I LOVE the water!

She was SO thrilled to be tall enough for the 'big' slides this year!

Practicing my belly flops!

Hot summer weather meant that we got to visit The Cove (our local water slide park!)  :)  Danni and I love spending our summer days here... splashing, swimming, and sliding!!!  Danni was especially happy this year because she is now tall enough to ride all of the slides in Pirate's Cove -- last year she could only watch all of the fun from the wading pool!  :(  She was thrilled to be a part of the big kid action!!  Here's hoping that this was the first of many awesome visits!!