Cousin's new kitchen
The first thing to be observed and ogled upon arriving at my cousin's house was her newly redecorated kitchen. She hand-painted every brick!
Cousin's new breakfast nook
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Family Wii Tournament
We spent several hours enjoying Wii games. Here, Kent is "running" his Mii character in the javelin throw.
Family Wii Tournament
Ashlyn's turn at the javelin throw.
Family Wii Tournament
I brought my copy of Mario Kart. It took a little while for everyone else to get the hang of it.
Family Wii Tournament
The kids took to it pretty well. Before the day was over, Ashlyn was frequently taking 3rd place or better.
Redesigning my Mii character
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Other adults worked on a rather complex puzzle
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Afternoon pool time
Around noon, I took the kids to the pool, giving the other adults a much-welcomed break. 🙂 Jarin seemed eager to show off his skills from martial arts classes.
Another martial arts jump
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Ashlyn, the more graceful of the two, took to some more traditional dives
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Ashlyn, the more graceful of the two, took to some more traditional dives
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Ashlyn peers through the water
Ashlyn asked me before we left the house if I had brought my waterproof camera again this year. Of course I did, because (at the time) it was the only camera I owned!
Jarin might think something is fishy
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They're pretending to be holding on for dear life in a windstorm LOL
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Oops, need air
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Still hanging on in the windstorm - LOL priceless face
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Still hanging on in the windstorm
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Jarin likes blowing water through the noodles
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Jarin likes blowing water through the noodles
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Ashlyn's content to use the noodles for their intended purpose
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A bottom-sitting attempt gone awry
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A short clip of video with various underwater swimming by the kids
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In the evening, waiting for it to get dark enough for fireworks, Jarin rode his scooter
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Ashlyn and her pogo stick
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My attempt at illuminating Ashlyn with the camera flash while not washing out the beautiful pink sky we saw this night
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Ever the gymnast
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Throwing those little snaps that make a small pop when they hit the ground
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Jarin goes green
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Ashlyn gets pink—as if!
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Sparkler fountain
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Sparkler fountain
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Sparkler fountain
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Sparkler fountain
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Sparkler fountain
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Kent gets into the Fourth of July spirit
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Sparkler fountain
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Sparkler fountain
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Sparkler fountain
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No holiday is complete without handheld sparklers for the kids
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No holiday is complete without handheld sparklers for the kids
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No holiday is complete without handheld sparklers for the kids
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No holiday is complete without handheld sparklers for the kids
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The peanut gallery
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My mom and aunt (you guess which is which—yes, they're twins)
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The aftermath
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Yes, we absolutely clean up after ourselves
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Fireworks video, part 1 (sparkle fountains and whistle pops)
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Fireworks video, part 2 (various mortar launches)
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Fireworks video, part 3 (what I called the "Finale Box," which was a container of 36 mortars that launched sequentially)
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