Battle Ground Lake State Park

A local park that I hadn't yet checked out, and I'm so glad I did!

Such a summer camp-like scene: lake, pine trees, obnoxiously large amount of people (more proof later)

Cool stump and hill at the beginning of my walk

The water had tons of floating tree trunks

Closer look

Ah, you can just smell the fresh air, cantcha?

I thought the path was going to be wide, flat, and compacted- boy was I wrong! But it turned out to be so beautiful!

So very beautiful

And enchanting- check out these stump stepping stones!

Neat mossy boulders

Just mystical

Another shot

Little bridge and the path ahead

Cool winding steps

Oh look! The path was flat, wide, and compact- just not the one I took!

Lots of people were hanging out by the lake

Attempted beach by the lake- hey, at least it's something!

A horse trailer- it would be so cool to ride around this park!

A stall/hay for your horses

A ranch I saw on the way home

Even the PacNor has beautiful fields! It has everything!

Game On

Love this PacNor scene

I was really enchanted with the moon that evening; it has always kind of called to me

Ooooo, shooting star moon!

The pool and my feetsies

The view below- with some blurs that are fireworks :)

Even though I am going to continually try, I literally CANNOT describe to you the incredible amount of fireworks that we could see from Liz's house on the hill. Here are my video attempts, which I still think are worth watching:

My first video- I wish I would have lingered on certain spots longer- lessons learned. I love how you can hear explosions, laughing, etc.- the 4th!

This video is nothing special, but towards the very end you can hear Natalie's little voice yelling "Nice Job!" and then I start laughing goofily

Once it was darker, you can definitely see a lot more on the video, and I attempt to show my face- fail. (Sorry, RightHand! And thanks for loving my face!)


Pretty awesome video that gives you an even better sense of the atmosphere

I leave you with this Home and Gardens-esque scene. Because in the end, that's what it's about, right? Flags, wine, and candles? Nah. I honestly find it insulting when people talk about their fellow Americans not understanding the meaning or importance of holidays like the 4th of July. Honestly, it seems to me that most people who lived through September 11th, if they can TRULY tap back into how they felt that day, well, they know what it's all about. Love you, America.

Happy Belated Fourth, everybody.

The Night Closes In...

The moon over the pool- it was gorgeous

A little closer

Elizabeth's friends having a great time

My red Floaties are Natalie's obsession! Tried to find her a kid size replica but they were about $50! Damn.

Her pride and joy

Julie, giving a little wave. The table was out of Home and Gardens, seriously.

The fireworks were really starting up and Natalie was not happy :(

But then she started getting a little bi-polar on us... She would seem to starting enjoying the fireworks and after a particularly big or colorful display, she would shout...

"Nice job!"

"Cute" doesn't even begin to cover it!

Here's a craptastic picture of the neighbor's loud fireworks, but then again, I kind of like this pic- a nice little neon bird or something :)

The ladies and their wine- I'm so mad my camera went blurry- this woulda been so cute

Girlie chatting and showing and telling

Poolside Surprise

Even though there were tons of people and fireworks, this deer suddenly came out of the woods!

First video of the deer

Continued footage of the deer- crazy!

Pool Fun

The adorable newlyweds, Stacy and Eric, watching the fun

Natalie and Papa in the pool

She was having a blast- and so was Papa!

Jack got tired from all of the swimming and kicking he was doing

A little clearer picture of the sweet boy

Once the kids were out of the pool, the drunken shenanigans fun started...

Annie and I were egging cheering on Reed as he attempted to jump onto the ball.
This video is so freakin' classic

And here's his second attempt, The Perfect Miss

Finally the Fourth!

Wooo, talk about better late than never! I am finally posting the pics from the 4th of July party that Elizabeth hosted. Great family, friends, and fireworks!

Natalie and Jack started the party with some much-needed cooling off

Cutest kids!

Natalie poses

Grandpa about to help Jack out of the pool

Out from under the hat for a minute- what a cutie!!

Eric, Stacy, Reed, and Sarah, poolside

Katie in the pool, playing with the kids

Natalie in her "Sparkle" shirt

The flag hanging right outside the kitchen

Annie's cute cake!

The spread

The ever-energetic hostess
(And on the left you can just barely see the napkins that I rolled and she tied with cute ribbon)

My plate- yum! Everything was AWESOME!! Which was good, because we ate the leftovers for many, many, many days :)

Decor on one of the tables

After playing too excitedly in the birdbath, Natalie had to take off her sopping wet shirt. And then the scary fireworks started. Have you ever seen a child look so beautiful and scared at the same time?!!

Eating dessert

Jack eating his cake and ice cream- must've been too cold right then!