Fourth of July

We had a great fourth of July. Our weekend was full of fun, fireworks, family, friends and exhaustion. It was probably the best fourth I have had in a long time. The kids are really at the age where all these activities are fun for them and they are remembering these events. The weekend started off with the downtown fireworks at my office. The kids enjoyed the time with their cousins and Nana was in town. The weather was great and the fireworks were a hit. Lindsay also went with us and watched these fireworks.








Julianne's new trick.



The next event was our neighborhood block party. It was bigger and better with year with inflatables, slip-n-slides, great grillers, food and fantastic desserts. It was exhausting to help organize, set up, take down, hold Lindsay and talk to people all at the same time. I was ready to be done with the event even though it was worth all the effort.




The next day we had an opportunity to participate in our local parade. We had a great time and it was fun to be on the other side. I did not realize how large the parade was and it was fun to see all the people come out to support the local parade. The kids had fun and Nathan was with me in our car and he was stubborn at first. He did not want to wave and only wanted to wave at people that he knew. Toward the end he ended up waving and was in to it.

Our fancy car.


These horses were right behind our car and the boys loved watching them. They kept pretending that the horse were going to eat them and when they got close to our car the boys hid. The horse were carrying a band so it was fun to hear the music as we traveled down the parade route.



Nathan and his wave.


Here are some other random events that occurred within the past few months.

We were playing cards with our neighbors and Nathan came down and wanted us to do something before he went to sleep. We said we would be up in a moment and we forgot. A few hours later we came up and he was asleep like this with is light on. We kind of felt guilty but it was funny at the same time.



We put Lindsay in the excersauser for the first time ever and her look of confusion/amazement/over stimulation was priceless. She was glued to everything and the kids kept turning her around saying, "Lindsay, look at this, look at this, etc.." That lasted a few moments before mental fatigue set in and the senses overloaded. Since then she has enjoyed it more and the kids are told to leave her alone.

Our beautiful new quilt that my stepmother's mom made for Lindsay. We love all her quilts and I am so happy to be the owner of another one.

I took the kids to a surrounding park that had a lot of paths, secret gardens, ponds, tunnels, and beautiful gardens. The kids really enjoyed it and ran around and around. We had a great time and I really want to do more of these special occasions more often.











Things I am grateful/thankful for:
-nursing Lindsay and our special time together
-sharing experiences with my family
-not having so many activities to do
-appeciating our community

Chris's Graduation

Well within the past few weeks we have celebrated by brothers graduation, played a family baseball game and gotten the girls ear's pierced. My brothers graduation was personalized and very unique. There were only about 40 kids in his class and each student graduated with a message from someone that hey wanted to talk on their behalf. The teachers seemed great and the students were so happy to be at the school with all the personalized attention. It was great to see his school and teachers who have influenced him and helped get him to where he is now.

Here is my brother at his graduation. His is his tutor/guide who has worked with him for over 9 years. She was just as emotional about his graduation as everyone else.

Here is one of his teachers sending him a message.

The proud parents.

Julianne has been bugging me for about a year to get her ears pierced. I got mine at 13 but it seems like all the girls have gotten theirs pierces way before then. So we compromised and said 10. However in the fall she cannot wear earrings because of soccer so we said we would get them at the beginning of summer so that they could heal and be able to take them out for soccer without them closing up. So when school was out for the summer was the magic day. However, about a few weeks ago she kept convincing me that she wanted to show all her friends her earrings so she needed them done before summer break. So I took her and Mallory the week before school got out. I decided to get Mallory's done because she has asked me a few times and I keep telling her that she needs to wait. I decided to surprise Mallory because she rarely asks for things repeatedly, unlike her persistent sister, so I thought i would surprise her. Julianne was fine with her getting her ears pierced before she was ten. She did say that it was "unfair" but I reminded her that life is unfair and it was an experience that they could share together. So we went to this local body piercing place which was both unique and cool. Our piercer, Kevin, was supper sweet and cool. The girls did not really get upset or cry. Mallory had a scrunchy face but that was about it. They were really excited and they both love their new earrings.






Ouch face!!

All done.

We took an impromptu trip to the park and played Tolly's baseball. D was the pitcher and the kids were the hitters. I was the designated baby holder and ball catcher. The kids had fun. D had a strained knee so he was hobbling around which gave the kids an advantage.

In my stroller

"I hate when you take my picture"

What a cutie


Nathan was all over the field. He did not know which way to run. Too funny.

I don't think he got her with his bum knee and his flip flops.


Where does he keep running to?

I will get to play next year.

Quit taking my picture.





Here are some Lindsay pictures:






Things I am grateful/thankful for:
-Seeing other peoples accomplishments.
-Taking the girls to get their ear's pierced
-My peaceful/calm/sleeping infant.