Stirring up a hornet's nest!......

Fourth of July........ This is how the 4th started out for us! Just playing in the backyard with no intention of going inside--even for a nap! We were planning to enjoy the FUN day and finish it off with fireworks that evening!.... Well.....

We made a little shade tent for Maddox after he splashed in the pool for a few minutes. He was enjoying himself!....

Zion and Paige wanted to join Maddox in the shade tent!

It was too much fun!!!....

And here's our pool.... Paige picked out the blue color! It's the perfect size for us right now--not too big or too deep, but big enough for us to enjoy!.....

Paige was just too cute and funny in this little yellow froggy hat! I was surprised she kept it on for so long!.....

.....So, after a bit, I decided Maddox had probably been outside long enough... So, I took him inside. Upon coming back outside, Zion began to talk about the bugs (and freak out a little). Most of you are aware that Zion (and now Paige) do NOT LIKE BUGS AT ALL!!!!!!!!!! (Yes, Kista, we're city folks!:) Anyway, we usually just figure out what it is and shoo it away or distract or whatever. Most bugs don't stay in one place for very long... However, as I began to notice what it was that Zion was talking about, I quickly realized he was NOT talking about a fly or even a wasp or a bee! No, actually, there were HORNETS buzzing around us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had only ever seen one hornet in our backyard, and it was only there a couple of times and would go away. I hadn't seen any for DAYS! But this time there were at least 6, if not more, buzzing around us. For anyone who has experienced this, they are pretty aggressive! They don't just fly around--they actually fly near you, AT YOU, almost!... So, I quickly brought the kids inside and began researching on the internet while watching out my window to figure out just what in the world was going on! Something had just chased us out of our backyard, and I, for one, was NOT happy about it!!!!
So, come to find out, we think a colony of "bald-faced hornets" is making their home in our tree just behind our playset! We've since seen several flying all over the backyard. Anytime you head outside to the backyard they begin flying around to check you out! In fact, I'm pretty sure our neighbors--who share the back of our fence--had to stop mowing the other day, in the mid-afternoon, because they were getting swarmed! So, first thing this morning I've already put a call into our bug guy! We should hear back before noon as to how we go about this!! Shane went out Friday evening (when they're not as active) to try and locate the nest. However, the tree is pretty dense in the area where you can see the hornets flying in and out. We're hoping some professionals can find it and get rid of it!!! WE'RE TAKING OUR BACKYARD BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll keep you posted!......

This is the tree..... The hornets fly in and out about 3/4 the way up on the left! Oh, one more piece of information--from what I've read online, these colonies can get anywhere from 400-800 hornets by late summer!! We're hoping to get rid of them now (which the internet also said was nearly impossible!) That's why we're resorting to professionals! (If you do have any info or ideas, feel free to let us know!)

THANK YOU, NANA!!!!

And lastly, a BIG "thank you" to Nana!!! She sent these outfits for the kids and they are SO adorable!!! I was thinking they might be perfect for a rehearsal dinner--is that what you were thinking, Nana??!!!..... (This picture turned out kinda silly, but still adorable! With the three of them, especially at home for some reason, you take what you can get!:)