Sorry it has been so long since my last post. We've had some sick kids, but they are all better now and ready to continue with thier summer! Above is Jenny Serenading to Brendan. He got his own show!
Theresa and Jenny sang the afternoon away. 
Ava and Josie.
Paul and I had our marriage blessed on Saturday. The Deacon recited this prayer during the ceremony. I was asked to get a copy of it and instead of e-mailing, I decided to just post it. It is a very beautiful prayer and very true, especially for the couple above-my grandparents dancing at the party on Saturday. They have been married for over 50 years! Thanks for making the trip up and thank you Joanne and Pat for spending you're anniversary with me (you're flower girl) and Paul! While I'm thanking people, thank you Mom and Rick for planning such a nice party and for providing music! Rick and Jenny thanks for all the singing! Thanks also to Matt and Theresa for reading! Jess thanks for making the cake! (Boy, I feel like I'm giving an award speech) Thanks to everybody for sharing in our special day!
The Hands Prayer
This one above is probaly my favorite, with Ava's hair blowing everywhere.
"Feeling the Wind"
Here is Brendan watching Ava walk along the shore.
Monday we spent the afternoon at Wilson's Bay. It's a nice rocky beach. Monday was a hot day, but by the lake it was very breezy so we didn't have to get wet to cool off. I got a new camera for my birthday and I love it! I just kept snapping pictures and I stopped when I ran out of memory on my card. When I got home I was surprised to see that I had taken over 100 pictures. I picked out some of my favorites to post. Unfortunately I had to save them to a lower resolution to post them on the blog or else it would have taken me forever to post them all, so they are not as clear as the originals. There is a summer photo contest going on in my town and I was thinking about entering some pictures. (that is another reason I took over 100 shots!)
Brendan's hair takes a ride in the wind.
She at her cake so carefully
Look at what a big girl she is!
Ava had a great time playing the games at you're party and she loves the pencils that were in her goody bag. She has never used that kind before. Thanks!
We had a very busy day. The rain held out until right after the fireworks, but on our walk home we got drenched. I took the wet clothes off the kids and as soon as they hit the couch they were out. We had to carry them up to bed. Ava caught a lot of candy during the parade and I was surprised to see that Ava tried to fit in one more lollipop before bed. I had to pry it out of her hand. (We bend the rules a little bit for French Festival!)
Pretty much everybody who lives in Cape Vincent has a BBQ or party on French Festival weekend. Since nobody came to our house until the fireworks, (although they were very welcome) we went to neighbors BBQ's.
Here is Ava entering the kiddie pool with her pretty butterfly face. Lets see how long it lasts.
Not very long.
The night ended with a nice fireworks display over the water. Mom, Rick and the Barton's came to watch the fireworks.
The French Festival Fireworks were where Brad and Jenny spent their first date, so many years ago! How Romantic!
After the puppet show, we played games! Here is Ava at the duck pond...
Here she is at the basket toss. I really liked these games because the kids got at many throws as it took until they won!
Face Painting!
What a pretty butterfly.
Here she is with her prize. She kept staring at herself in the mirror. How pretty!
After the parade, we went to the puppet show in the village green.
Ava and Brendan watched together.
At the end, Ava got to go up and see the puppets.
This weekend was the 40th anniversary of the French Festival in our town. All week the town workers and town people have been getting ready for all the visitors for the festival. We even saw the street sweeper go by! Up above is Napolean Bonaparte leading the parade. He almost moved to Cape Vincent in the early 1800's, but never managed to escape the Island of St. Helena. There was even a house built here that was meant for him. 
We watched the parade at Grandma Handley's house instead of going downtown with the crowds and heat. It was much quieter and shady on Grandma's street. Perfect for Brendan and Ava. They both really enjoyed it. Brendan loves music!
Ava even got a dance in.
Here is Ava marching in her own parade playing the "air flute."
The Girls.
We went to Mom and Rick's house last Sunday for dinner. The kids loved swimming together in the pool and they loved the swingset that Grandma and Rick got for them. Ava thinks it is so fun at Grandma Gifford's. Brendan like's it too! Here he is in Grandma's lap. Rick has a buddy too! 
This has been a very busy week for Ava (and me). She has had swimming lessons followed by soccer every morning this week. She really has enjoyed soccer and has loved swimming. I am impressed with the amount she learned during her lessons. Today she even jumped off of the diving board. She was scared at first but she was very brave and gave it a shot. Tommorow is the last day for both of the activities and I am kind of looking forward to it. I am probaly more worn out than she is because we have been getting up very early. I also drove three other kids. I felt like a bus driver because I borrowed a friend's van. One more day!
I just wanted to add a couple more photos from our trip to Wolfe Island. This is Ava and a little girl who she met making sand castles.
On our way back to the ferry we noticed this truck parked in the river. I couldn't figure out why. To many drinks maybe?
