Independence Day

Each year our neighborhood has a Independence Day parade. Everyone decorates their wagons or strollers and follows the fire engines around the neighborhood. It is sweet. I enjoyed meeting more of our neighbors and seeing friends from the past. After are march around the block we came back for ice cream and the kids were allowed to climb in the fire trucks to have a look around.

Trace Me Mommy!

Anne is into having herself traced, A LOT! Jessica gives Anne the plans from old jobs and we turn them upside down and trace.

That's Lilly closest to Anne. At the top are her rendition of birds. She has also written her name several times on this one.

Father's Day

That's my fish! I forgot to post pics of our Father's Day celebration. Great Grandma invited us up for a lunch of fried chicken (my dad's favorite) and all the fixins.

Scott was able to rest and relax and Dad was able to "fish." Most of his fishing consisted of baiting Anne and my hooks, retrieving our poles , and taking fish of the hook.

We had a ball!

Anne loved fishing out the dead minnows and throwing them in the lake. There were a lot of dead minnows. The deaths have been linked to Anne's hands.

Notice how I am still avoiding doing the dishes at family gatherings.

Scott is relaxing. He fell asleep later on in the afternoon.

Patience

Anne's fish
My dad tried to get Anne to hold it for a picture, but hen he let go she dropped it. It flopped around on the dock and I screamed bloody murder and traumatized both my children.

My Fish
After two broken bamboo poles and one lost bobber I caught this guy. No, I did not touch the fish. That's my dad's thumb.

Pacifier

Scott and I both agreed that when Anne turned four she would have to start sleeping without her pacifier. In theory it sounded like a great idea. At the time we concieved our little plan four seemed very far away. Well, four came and I caved. I begged Scott to let Anne keep her passy. I told him no one would know she still had one because she only uses them at naps and bedtime. I mean I don't think it would cause any permanent damage, well at least that braces couldn't fix. She could give it up when she went to college or something. None of these well thought out arguments worked on Scott. He held firm and we took Anne's passy's. She cried and mourned the first night and nap, but is slowly adjusting. She announced this morning that she was brave because she slept the whole night without her passy. I told her she was the bravest girl ever.

Wordless Wednesday

Family Party

Sautrday we celebrated Anne's 4th birthday with our family! Growing up I always had a "friend" party and a "family" party so we are carrying on the tradition.

We had yummy flower cupcakes!

I made some flower balloon decorations. I had big plans to create an entire flower balloon garden, but I got a little to light headed after blowing up twenty balloons and thought that three was a good number to stop at.

Cousin Jan gave Anne some gardening tools. They are so cute!

Just making sure I didn't miss anything.
A girl after her mother's heart.

Anne is into art! Check out her apron and hat that Gran gave her.

The family! Once again Abby didn't make it into the picture so she got her own solo shot below.

Happy Birthday Big Sis!

Chuck E Cheese

Anne put on her birthday dress early in the morning. She was ready for her party!

Thank you for my presents!

Anne and Chuck E. Cheese

Blowing out the candles

Chuck crowns the birthday girl. She has been wearing her crown for days.

Backyardigans cake

The party animals

Abby is driving. She liked most of the games, but did not care for Chuck E. Cheese.

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