4th of July, Horseshoe Lake Style

It has been a few years since the O'Leary family was home for the 4th of July and it is always a big fun day at the lake with the pier competition and boat parade. We decked everyone out in red, white and blue and had so many laughs.

Pier is decorated and off to the parade we go.

The boys are so funny and could not wait to get their glasses on.  I am not sure Colby was able to keep his own.

Sean was kicked back in the best seat to see all the piers in search for young southern girls in bikinis.  Yes, he is a typical 14 year old boy.

Too bad we ran out of glasses for me but my guys look so handsome in theirs.

Me and Daddy

Pa-Pa always lets the boys have a turn driving in the parade but this year they got to drive the boat back to the house at the end of the parade.

Sean is crazy and he did everything he could to gather beads as we went by the piers.  He got a lot more than what he had on in this picture.

On our way back to the house.

And what would a boat parade be without a wet willy?  Sean loves it, can't you tell.

I love this photo of Austin.  He really had a good time and was such a good boy during the parade.  We did not win but a good time was had by all.

Pa-Pa's cabin brings lots of fun for all of us

The boys had made a couple of trip to Pa-Pa's cabin at Whiskey Island because they love to drive the 4 wheeler.  Austin was always a big help by helping pick Pa-Pa's garden.  They were actually picking dinner.  Not sure Austin realized it at the time but he is a great helper.

Colby was just waiting for his turn on the 4 wheeler and Sean loved being able to just take off on it and explore.

Both boys loved riding with Daddy and going farther than Sean was comfortable taking them.

Peas and Carrots as we refer to them, having some fun times on the cabin porch.

The boys wanted to know when they could go back and stay there for a long time. They loved being outside and just doing boys stuff like picking up sticks, throwing rocks, digging in the dirt, riding 4 wheelers and drinking all of Pa-Pa's sprite and pickles.  I know it sounds crazy but Pa-Pa cans his own pickles and the boys LOVED them.  Every time I turned around they had the jar of pickles out eating them. The boys miss all their Arkansas family and the fun they had all the way from Fayetteville, Marked Tree, Whiskey Island and Horseshoe Lake.  What a great summer!!

Trying to catch a fish with Daddy

We had no luck with Pa-Pa so the boys thought Daddy just might be their lucky charm.  Mommy was just glad that Daddy was there to bait the hooks and take off any fish there were caught.

After trying and trying, still no fish.

Since catching fish was not in the plan, Austin decided it was time to show off his muscles. He was comparing his to Daddy's. I think Austin is catching up.

I love that my boys just don't give up. There is always hope and this taught them patience.

Horseshoe Lake...smiles, laughs and fun

Best thing to do the lake if swim of course and that is what we did all day every day.  Austin and Colby love being able to swim any time they want and jumping off the pier is just icing on the cake.

The lake was very empty and the boys loved looking out and saying we have the whole lake to ourselves today.

Every night Pa-pa would load the boat and we would go down the lake. It is always so relaxing and the boys loved going every night.

Surprise...Look who is here

We all were very happy to find out we were going to get 3 and a half days with Pat.  The boys were so excited for Daddy to fly into Memphis for the 4th of July weekend.  Here are some snapshots of fun on the lake.

It was so nice to have my family all together again even if only for 3 days before he deployed to Kuwait for a year.  We had fish, BBQ, naps, jumping competitions, homemade ice cream, hugs, laughs, tears and love.  What more could I have asked for.

Fishing with Pa-Pa

After 4 weeks of every day fun and baseball the boys headed to Pa-Pa's to wait for my return to Arkansas.  Lou Lou picked them up and they actually spent one night with her and Emily and I think they have a great time.  She made their favorite meal, tacos and dessert and most of all she built a fort that they were able to sleep in. I think they were sad to leave Lou's and head to the lake.

Once the boys got to Pa-Pa's I was on my way home from my Army training in CA and  and I could not wait to get to Arkansas and see my boys.  Once at Pa-Pa's it was time to try and catch a fish. We tried every day, twice a day and never caught one. I am thinking the 100+ temperatures was just too hot for the fish to even think about eating.

All of them looking for the bobber to drop or move.  It think Pa-Pa was really hoping they would catch one just to see how they would handle it.  Austin did get one bite but he wasn't looking and the fish took his cricket, hook and broke the line.

More good times at Horseshoe lake to come over the next week.

Summer fun with our Magre cousins

It was time for summer and time for the boys to head to Arkansas to spend 4 weeks, yes 4 weeks with my family.  They were very excited and really didn't seem to care that I would not be there. (Tear Tear for mom). I packed their bags and flew them to Fayetteville to turn them over to Aunt Anna, Crazy Uncle Nate (that's what they said, not me), Matthew and Lo.  While I was there for a few days, Lou Lou came up and we all went to the animal park. The funny part was Nate had ALL the kids in his vehicle and Lou and I were in hers and I guarantee we laughed more than they did.

It is amazing that the kangaroos let the boys get so close. The boys have never been around kangaroos of course so they were so curious.

Then we moved on to the lil monkey who was so funny. She kept chewing on Sean's shirt and tickling him.

Then she moved on to me where she proceeded to sit on my shoulder and check my hair for bugs...I don't think she had any luck. So she moved on to Lou Lou and checked her shirt front and back and her pants.  It was so funny but she really like Lou Lou.

Austin found a lil goat that sure like the bread he had. 

Colby had a little friend too but he did not like when they all gathered around him.

No sure what this animal was but he was so soft.

It was a fun day, including a picnic, Matthew not being bitten by the Zebra and a camel trying to get in our window to chat with us.  Good times and lots of laughs were had by all. This was only the beginning of a fun few weeks for the boys. Colby and Austin both took swim lessons and Sean had private basketball lessons.  They had more baseball games and practices than they ever could have imagined.  Colby loved going with Uncle Nate to the mini storage so he could drive the gold cart and of course always get a treat.

 

I truly appreciate Anna and Nate's willingness to take the boys for me and Pat so we can continue to serve our country. Behind every Soldier is an awesome family and I have the best one.  I am one lucky lady.