God Bless America!

Today started out as a very happy day for me because although Ian woke up at 5:40 (he's been waking up between 5:15-5:40 every day), for once he went back to sleep and didn't actually get up until 7:15! Yahoooooo! This morning we went to our town's 4th of July parade for the third year in a row. When she was 1 year old she was fairly oblivious to the event. Last year and this year she loved collecting all the candy that the people in the parade throw out to the children. Ian has never had a piece of candy, but he loves watching the tractors, fire engines, motorcycles, etc. that go by in a parade.

The kids and I went to the pool this afternoon. Both kids were sad when it was time to go, but I was hungry for dinner! Nadia had fun with Kyle, Joseph (both lifeguards), and a couple of teenage girls. Yesterday would have been a great day to go the pool as it was in the 90's, and I was really hot after mowing during Nadia's nap, but Paul doesn't ever go to the pool with us (aside from on Memorial Day), and if we went to the pool yesterday then Paul wouldn't have spent any time with Nadia yesterday as the kids and I were at church from 8:45-12:45 and then she took her nap. I suggested we walk to the ice cream stand and playground after her nap as I figured he'd join us for that. Normally, I won't walk that far when it's that hot out, but sharing a fudge boat with Nadia helped motivate me to endure the heat!


Nadia loved picking up lots of candy!



I'm very grateful that we live in the United States. I hope I never take our freedom for granted! We are very blessed. Sometimes I get concerned about the direction our country seems to be heading, but I'm hoping that our country will still be a great one when Ian and Nadia are adults.

Paul doesn't like fireworks, but I love them. I think next year Nadia will be old enough to enjoy them. I am thinking at this point the loud noise still might scare her. Maybe next year Ian can stay home with Paul, and Nadia and I can go see the fireworks. I hope the kids love them as much as I do! There are so many firsts to look forward to with children.

Ian did a LOT of pointing at the parade (as the various vehicles went by).