The 4th of July

We shared such a fun day as a family...

We started out the day by going to the Carnation Parade. My highlight was eating the pulled pork.  

 This girl is obsessed with flowers!

Ice Cones

Austin is such a great helper. He loves his sister so much!  He is defiantly a protector.

We created a "Gessel" water park in Nani and Grandpa's backyard. Slip n' Slide, mini pool, huge beach ball, and sprinklers. 

Grandpa and Austin racing to the finish line. Austin WINS!

It was so hot and bright on the 4th this year.

We played in the water all day.  Anson and I also did the slip n' slide... that was interesting and fun! (Wish we got a picture of it).

Even Avery tried! She cracks me up!

Not sure what Avery is thinking??

Anson trying to slash me while I was holding his expensive camera. Humm. 

Friends came to join in on the fun!

After playing in the water for hours we had a BBQ. So delicious!

Austin's favorite meal. Steak and corn.

My dear boys!

This picture is terrible of me and Anson but the kids are cute!!! 

Austin is getting ready for our firework show!  Performed by the Gessel men!  Since we already watched 3 firework shows at Disneyland a week before the 4th we decided to do our own firework show.  Grandpa bought a ton of fun stuff. We had a blast!   

Sparklers 

Look I wrote my name. Next year I will write it backwards. oops. 

I love my buddy!! 

Avery is very unsure about Grandpa putting fire in her face??

I am pretty sure this is the one that started a small fire.   Austin ran inside and got a cup of water to put the fire out.  Hero of  the night!

I hope everyone had a great 4th.  

#1 DAD

Anson you are a great Father to our children.

You are so dedicated to your family and our happiness.

You work so hard to provide, teach, guide, and care for us.

3 years ago you dropped almost everything in your life to love and be apart of me and Austin's life.   I will forever be grateful to the Lord for putting you in our path.  You love us in a way that is heavenly.   Thank you Anson for being such a wonderful dad!

Happy Fathers Day!    I am glad you got to celebrate Father's Day at the beach with both of your children and of course your darling wife:)  Plus Uncle Jon  BBQ some yummy steak! Oh and the delicious banana pudding cake made by Aunt Sara .

Austin is back...

Every summer Austin has a long summer visit in Reno with his Biological dad, Mike. It is a hard time for our family. My heart truly aches! It usually is 6 weeks all at one time. This year however was different, it was 4 weeks and then Austin will go back at the end of July for 2 more weeks.  

So instead of picking Austin up from his 4 week visit in Reno we picked him up in Oceanside, CA.   Why? 

 Well,  Mike and his wife Laura had a family reunion at Oceanside, CA the week before us, in the same condo complex as ours. Crazy I know!  But it worked out great for all of us. Austin got to enjoy two family reunions, two weeks of total fun on the beach.  We are so excited to have him back!  Austin was crazy excited too!!!   When it was time to go back home to Seattle I could barely keep him still on the plane, he kept telling me how excited he was to go to his house!      

We adore and love this boy!