First off, some random pictures:
Poppy and Ryan, hanging out
So here's the 4th of July - we had so much fun. July 4th has really become quite a big Lathrop family tradition. Parade, bike parade at pool, fireworks. It's a BIG day for us.
We started the day watching the local parade...
Then we went to our local pool for the kids' bike parade. Ben and Nathan had decorated their own bikes - Ryan and I decorated his tricycle together
And last, but not least, we went to the park for a picnic dinner and fireworks. The Pray family joined us.

This one is so going to be blackmail material someday...
Who are all these crazy people?
Nice hats!
Ryan and Daddy
Keaton's thinking, "What are you looking at, Ryan?"
"I'm just gonna have a drink..."
Ryan and Keelin really hit it off
Mike and Kim
After July 4th, most of our summer was taken up with swimming at the pool, both for fun and for swim team. Here are some of my favorite pics:


Ben and Nathan, with their swim team trophies:
And Ryan with his "trophy" - a plane he found at the pool. I don't know whose it was, but he found it every single visit and played with it. :-)
And last, but certainly not least, was Ryan's birthday! My little guy turned 3 on July 22nd - it was a fun day. We had two celebrations: one a couple of days early with Gramma and Poppy, and then a birthday pizza/ice cream trip on his birthday down to Ryan's favorite pizza and ice cream places: Vintage Pizza and Frosty Caboose (yes, the ice cream "store" is actually a train caboose!). The Prays joined us again for that celebration!
After July 4th, most of our summer was taken up with swimming at the pool, both for fun and for swim team. Here are some of my favorite pics:
Ben and Nathan, with their swim team trophies:
And last, but certainly not least, was Ryan's birthday! My little guy turned 3 on July 22nd - it was a fun day. We had two celebrations: one a couple of days early with Gramma and Poppy, and then a birthday pizza/ice cream trip on his birthday down to Ryan's favorite pizza and ice cream places: Vintage Pizza and Frosty Caboose (yes, the ice cream "store" is actually a train caboose!). The Prays joined us again for that celebration!
Here's our celebration with Gramma and Poppy:


Like cake much, Ryan?
This is on Ryan's actual birthday, as we were walking to Vintage Pizza (yes, walking - it was about a mile and a half)
Here's Ben and Bryn on the caboose - look how big they are!

The birthday boy - 
Think we're outnumbered? that's Nathan, Ben, Ryan, Bryn, Keaton & Keelin. Denali was at a soccer game that night with friends. 
Summer would not be complete without some injuries... Ben got a bee sting on his foot:
It could've been worse - no broken limbs this summer, and no need for crutches! Wahoo! :-)
Bye, summer - it was fun!