Fourth of July morning

We always start our Fourth of July experience at home.

The first required ingredient is the Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN, accompanied by a full English breakfast, just the way our forefathers would have.

Next, we skip up the street to the Pepper Street Parade. This is neighborhood living at its best. All of the local neighbors walk up the street with their kids on bikes, and then parade back down the street.

The guy with the tuba leads the way.

This was Lucy's first year as a participant on a bike.

Next year, we need to decorate it.

To be continued. . .

Construction Workers

Don't you love it when you get home from vacation to a hole in your wall?

Simon took down a door and shelf in our family room that will be replaced with a paneled wall. We're also going to attempt what we are calling "The Three Room Switch." Kids will go in our current room, we'll go in the laundry/guest/office, and the kids current room will be our guest office.

Basically it's a mess.

But it will get better.

At least that's what this super helpful construction kid keeps telling me.

These may be my favorites. . .

These may be two of my favorite pictures of all time.

Boat Cruises

We took several fun boat cruises with my mom, grandparents, and the kids.

I swore I wouldn't make Henry wear the Barbie lifejacket this year, but then I ran out of time to bring one up so he was stuck in the thing. We were trying to make it more of a "Bobby" thing and less of a "Barbie" thing, but I don't think he noticed.

Mom and Nana

 

Papa

Lunch at Braywood. . . I think this is what heaven is like. 

Henry helps Papa drive the boat

Love!

Wisconsin

I love Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Like, it's almost unhealthy how much I love this place.

We flew to my Nana and Papa's cabin for 10 days of ultimate fun and relaxation. 

The kids had a ball and Simon got to join us this year to make it extra fun!

The flight was pretty uneventful, several viewings of the Wizard of Oz were had (fast forwarding through the witch, of course.)

And then we arrived!

We did all the important things: took walks and runs, ate, read books, ate, played with toys, ate, and spent some much needed outdoor time.

Puddin!

Sometime we do classy things.

And sometimes we sit on the kitchen floor half dressed and make chocolate pudding, and then eat it right out of the bowl.

Memorial Day!

On Memorial Day we went to the La Canada parade.

Picture loads of cars with signs taped to them, loads of kids with streamers taped to their handlebars, and one gigantic cheerleading squad. It was very cute. We stood in front of church and watched the action go by.

And then we went home and Simon bbq'ed for us.