Site Title

So said Emma as we walked to our car from the fireworks… and with good reason.  This year, the 4th had everything a great holiday should have:  good friends, good food, a nap, sparklers, and a fantastic fireworks show.  My friend pointed out a great truth about Independence Day – it's not a lot of preparation, just a lot of fun!  So although I'm old enough to know it wouldn't be fun to have EVERY day be the 4th of July, I have to agree that it would be fun to have a few more!   Just for fun, here's 4 favorite memories of the 4th (that mostly aren't related to the 4 pictures):  

1 – Carter was NOT a fan of the cul-de-sac fireworks show, but he LOVED the big city display.  (Good thing, since there were so many people sitting around us to bother if he screamed the whole time!)

2 – Zach stayed awake for the big fireworks for the first time in his life.  He loved them, too, and kept saying about a particular firework – "That one looks like Anakin hair!"  (Star wars permeates every part of our life these days.)  

3 – Emma was the first one to discover 'writing' with sparklers.  She was so excited.  It reminded me of when I was little – writing with sparklers was my FAVORITE part of the 4th.  Next year I will be buying myself a package of sparklers.  

4 – Nate and our neighbor had way too much fun with flower fireworks in milk cartons.  It was fun just to watch the big boys enjoy themselves as much as the little ones.  

5-(okay, didn't plan on 5, but I couldn't forget about "smoky fun".)The kids ran through the smoke from the small fireworks yelling "smoky fun!!!!" after each one went out.  It is funny how things never get old with kids.   

And if it doesn't – try it on anyways, just for fun.  Whenever Carter is in our room lately, this is how he chooses to spend his time.  Gotta love Daddy shoes! 

The 5-minute away, man-made beach… that my kids LOVE.  I have to drag them away… (this time, sort of literally… not our best exit.)  Up until that point, however, it was a lot of fun – what could be better than water and sand?  (PS, the water IS as brown as it looks… I just try to forget about it and enjoy myself.  After all, even after all the times we've been here and all the water my kids have swallowed, we're still alive…)

This summer, my kids' favorite thing is the sprinkler.  They finally are all at a stage where they can appreciate it in one way or another – Carter loves to play with the crazy sprinkler at our house; Emma loves to be in her swimsuit and to just run through; Zach calls it "jedi training" and either fights the water or tries to avoid the sprays.  Some days have been hot enough that I even ASK to get sprayed.  Here are some pics playing in the sprinkler at the neighbor's – who my kids [and I] love even more than the sprinkler, if that's possible.  

Here is Emma with our first harvest of cilantro.  We were so excited.  Then our cute little neighbor asked us what we were doing.  We told her we got cilantro from our plant!  She said [emphatically!] "I hate cilantro!"  And then Emma didn't look so excited anymore as she realized she didn't really like cilantro herself.  But then she got excited again when I told her she ate it in lots of things and liked it  [not entirely true].   But at least she was excited again – because I was excited about having something from our garden and wanted someone to be excited with me.  

Well, sort of walk… he's getting there.  He's gotten even braver in the last few days and will try it on his own (without people begging him to)…  But these are the first of the real steps.  Download MOV03303

First of the track meets – she loves it as much as ever. She is my runner girl!

We went to the zoo up in the Cities the other day – the first time we'd been there since we promised it (and didn't deliver) the day Emma smashed her finger in the door.  It was HOT – but the zoo is small and our trip was short enough to still be fun.  Carter wanted to join all of the animals… climbing, reaching, leaning… and really perfected the flamingo noise (a loud squeal).  We stood in the shade (ahhhhh…) and watched the baby orangutan for a long time… the kids' favorite part was that he was swinging from a rope and peeing at the same time.  What's not to love about that.  

Big bump in the covers every night is her little feet up in the air. Funny girl. Eats as many bananas as I'll let him. "Big-boy" style. Too cute. He asked me to take this picture. Lucky for me, when I'm at my grumpiest (while I'm still waking up) these two are at their sweetest.

I own a camera.  And I can take pictures of my kids.  But not like my friend Brooke.  I love how she captures their eyes.  Here are a few of my favorites…  one of the things I feel good about splurging on.