Happy Fourth

The festivities got started early yesterday. The boys and I spent the afternoon with my friend, Mallory Dubuclet and her family. We ate BBQ and beer while the kids splashed around in a play pool. Walker found an unopened lego set and went to town. Charlie wanted me to hold him the entire time, which was fine as long as I could drink while he snuggled on my chest. Then Mallory pulled out a little red velvet birthday cake!  There was a candle and a round of "happy birthday" too!  I feel celebrated.

This morning, it is mercifully cool (in the high 80's only getting up to 92 degrees today). The house is newly mowed and bedecked with the flag. I can hear the floats down the street making their way to the Lake Highlands High School for the 4th of July parade. All we need now is Jack!  He's been away for over two weeks finishing up his Utah gig and now with Catherine Fitzmaurice in New York. He'll be home in 6 days - but who's counting?  Here, maybe some photos of the house will make him homesick and then he'll rush home early!  (Or not.)

We miss you, sweet husband!

Soul Men

Yesterday...

Guitar Hero

Today, Dad made his usual pilgrimage to the Guitar Center. He took Walker with him this time to check out the local fare. Walker came home all jazzed about guitars and mentioned that he'd seen some smaller scale guitars "perfect for little boys".  Flashback - almost three years ago, I bought a child-sized guitar from a neighbor and I've been waiting for the day when Walker was big enough to play it and take care of it.  And the fact that my guitar-playing father is in town definitely sweetened the deal. So, I brought out the guitar, which had been hiding in a closet for these past few years. Walker couldn't be happier!

Oklahoma Water Rocket

Pa John picked me and the boys up in Cedar City, Utah and drove us home through Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. It takes some cojones to do that knowing that the 2-year-old is prone to screaming and the 5-year-old is prone to whining.  Kudos to Pa John!!!  Thank you for getting us all home safe for the Kenna Cup this weekend!

Pa John also brought a little surprise along for the ride - a water powered rocket!  After stopping for a break in Nowhere, Oklahoma, Pa John and Walker found an open field (not hard to do in those parts) to shoot off their rocket.  Can you say FUN?

Goggles

Today was Walker's last day of swim class. 

Here he is sporting his new frog-eyes!

Waiting for class to start...

Surprised when the whistle blew and it was time to swim!

Let the Swim Lessons Commence!

The Littlest Flapper

Jack and I went to a 1920's themed birthday party last night hosted by one of my PCPA classmates. She made all these wonderful flapper dancer headbands and I brought one home for Walker. When he saw it he said, "This is for me? You know how much I love pink. And it even sparkles!"