Memorial Day...

Last weekend was Memorial Day weekend and we started it off by grilling out with some friends.  Kirk and Erica just bought a new house with an awesome pool, so we decided to try out some swimming for the first time this year....

This is their littlest, Ava, and this is Cal checking her out...wouldn't they make such a cute couple.

Here's Cooper and Cal (for a brief moment) actually not bickering over toys.

Chase and Coleman had some fun playing tee ball 

And the whole crew basking in the sun...great time as always with the Blams!   

It was a super hot Memorial Day weekend in St. Louis and summer felt like it was really setting in.   On Saturday we headed over to Ben and Julie's for another BBQ.   So for those of you that don't know Jules and Ben, they put on a fantastic party (for adults and kids!)  

They put up a gigantic inflatable water slide and everyone jumped in.  Well...except for Coop and Cal.  It was just way to hot for Mom and Dad, but we made sure they had some fun inside.  

Every once and while they'd go over to the window to watch...

and as the night went on, we played on the deck.

And then later, much later, the real fun began...

Water balloon fights!!!

We lined up all of the balloons and got ready...five minutes to war! 

The big kids took some cheap shots...

And got the girls pretty soaked!  

This is Jules right before she corroborated a secret ambush from the side of the house.   They never even saw it coming!   

The night ended with some pretty exhausted kiddos...too bad they didn't even sleep in that next morning! 

So, we headed to get the car washed.  The boys love to watch it go through.

Then we headed to the pool...

Although, Coleman did really great with his water wings, I'll feel so much more comfortable when all three can swim.  

We dropped in on Grandpa and Grandma on Monday.  

 

This reminds me of my grandpa "tormenting" me and now my Dad is doing it to Coleman...and he loves it too! 

Memorial Day every year makes me appreciate my Dad and all of the other soldiers who have served or given their life to allow us to enjoy our country freely.   Many of my Dads' friends, including Sam Burrano (who my brother was named after), gave the ultimate sacrifice and we should all be thankful everyday.   Thankful that we can continue to make memories like this...memories of us.