The Baker Bunch: 4th of July and Ozarks

Lots and lots of pictures in this post...that's your warning!

Last week we enjoyed the outdoors. Seems like once the 4th hits summer is pretty much over...so we're trying to make the most of it! One day the weather was perfect, so we headed to the park:

Swinging! (P.S...he didn't do it!)

Poser!

Man this makes him look old!

On the evening of the 3rd of July we decided to do some fireworks in the cul-de-sac. The neighbor boys did also, so we did them together. Unfortunately some of our neighbors weren't as excited about them as us...they called the police! Ugh! Oh well, the police just told us they didn't care, but our neighbors did, so we'd probably better stop. Fun haters!

They were trying to burn everything and anything...they made these a "campfire." Zane, Eli, Will, Mason

On the fourth we headed to Jo's house to watch the parade from her driveway. We've done this the last few years and always enjoy seeing her and her family after a few weeks away!

Anxiously awaiting the parade...ready for candy!

Zane & Ryan

"What's going on?"

Waving at everything!

Before heading to see the big fireworks, we went home and did some more of our "harmless" ones, a.k.a. sparklers and snaps. Way to ruin the kids' fun, neighbors!

Sparklers...

Bryce stayed a safe distance back...

Making another "campfire"

Mason with his sparkler

Brothers!

LOVE!!!

Happy 4th!

Cleaning up the mess...

Three amigos waiting for fireworks to begin

Wow!

Bryce didn't enjoy our fireworks, but loved the professional ones!

It's hard to believe the time for the Ozarks has already been here and gone! We look forward to this trip every year! This year there were 13 of us. We left Sunday and when we got there went out for groceries.

4 heaping carts later...

There was lots of lake, pool, fishing, eating, and boat time!

Swimming in the lake!

Fishing! I don't know why he looks so grumpy!

Bryce trying out the hammock

I don't know why this is on here sideways...I can't fix it. So I guess you can turn your head...Zane was "catching" Bryce!

Zane caught lots of fish! Here's one of them.

Mason having fun in the pool

Mason swimming under the water

The boys with Aunt Marcy

Papa and Old Papa

Hanging out in the lake

Bryce and Papa

Our cabin. This year we stayed on the top. It's the best cabin we've had so far!

Relaxing in his floatie

The end of lake time today...

Swingin!

Fishing with Dad

Captain Mason

Zane learned how to ski using the "trainer skis." Thanks Aunt Marcy!

Mason was still "farming," even at the lake!

Mason caught one too!

He even touched the worms!

Fishing off of the deck

Captain Bryce

Matt, Zane, Mason & Brent getting ready to jump from the tower

Grill Master Matt

Nice hair, Bryce!

One day we went to our favorite place, Frankie and Louie's. It's got a beach, food, games, and is just a great place to hang out with the family!

Get those fingers out of your mouth!

Mason wanted nothing to do with pictures of himself!

Again...sideways...ugh...I don't think Zane wanted his picture taken either. Is he rolling his eyes at me?

Bryce loved running into the water! He was giggling like crazy!

At the pool...Zane doing forward rolls

Old Papa reading to Bryce

Uncle Brent teaching Zane how to play Chess

Tuckered out!

Balloon volleyball

Zane & Marcy in the kayak

Mason & Papa in the kayak

There they go!

Bryce kept seeing the boys jump from the towers. So he wanted to try!

Old Papa tried to get into the hammock. It didn't work out too well...

Thursday was Grandpa and Grandma Baker's 59th anniversary. We celebrated at the Topsider...where you can swim while you wait for your food! It was a great day!

59 years of wedded bliss! :)

Paddle boat. Lots of exercise!!

Maddy burned her feet on the dock. They blistered! She has her feet in a pan of cold water.

We also went to Ozark Bar-be-que, one of our favorites!

Feeding the ducks

And the fish (random boy in the middle)

Trying to get a duck to come close

Mason teaching Old Papa how to play Memory

Bubbles!

Saturday we rented a pontoon that would hold everyone so we could go out on the lake all at the same time. Toward the end of the trip, we remembered just how rough the lake is on a weekend day and decided that if we were to do this again, it would NOT be on a Saturday! At one point we hit two really huge waves, and the front of the pontoon was completely under water. It was a little bit scary!

Enjoying the scenery!

Mason got right in there!

And Bryce soon followed!

Uncle Brent with Mason

After the pontoon ride, Brent, Jodie, Madison, Matt, Mason, and Papa went to Bridal Cave. They also went to see a castle that burnt down. I have already seen both...they weren't my favorite...so I passed and took a nap!