4th of July

We enjoyed a very low-key 4th of July this year...a slow-moving morning and big breakfast at home (it was overcast so no hurry to get anywhere) and then we drove out to Saugatuck for the parade + ice cream. After that, we went to my parents' condo in Holland, played in the pool, ate dinner, and played at the beach.

Ella's big accomplishment this weekend was that she started swimming just with swimmies (no ring anymore) and she's learned to jump into the pool all by herself without being caught. She used to do this off of the steps into the shallow end but now she does it in the deep end and she's pretty good at "swimming" around the pool too. We laugh at her because she tends to do things only a little behind Dylan (he started jumping in by himself at the end of last summer) even though they are two years apart. Not sure if that's the difference between girls and boys or just the difference in their personalities. Our little girl is fearless - and a lot of fun to watch grow up :)
Saugatuck parade with cousins

Playing with Daddy in the pool

"Watch this, Daddy!"

Playing in Lake Michigan