Catch-up!

It has been a whirlwind few days celebrating the 4th.   

Making cupcakes.

Taste testing two different vanilla cupcake recipes.

(I'll post the winning recipe later)

Going the the Freedom Festival Stadium of Fire

 I can't envision a more beautiful view.

The parade.

Lydia mimicking Grandpa as he was explaining the ebb and flow of the parade. These two need to go to time-out sometimes.  Grandpa does everything he can to annoy Lydia, and she responds in kind.

The last entry of the parade.  I bought these shorts for him as a joke 2 years ago, and he now wears them a lot, especially on the 4th.  Lydia is mortified and Gary is elated.

Preparations for our own Stadium of Fire

(held at the elementary school).

Cupcakes!

The highly trained Pyro-technicians

The only damper on the evening was the rain that came down right during the fireworks. But it wasn't cold, so it was OK.  Natalie made a play list of patriotic music, and Gary had a PA system we could hear the music and his commentary.  We really appreciated the Roylance family who helped us set up and clean up the tables and chairs.  It was fun to see many of the kids who grew up in the neighborhood come back with their wives and children.

Family

 Some random shots of  friends who came.

 

 I'm grateful for the poeple in my life.

A few more adventures with

Real Live Lydia.

 Shopping at Costco (essential)

 Going to Pirate's Island and listening to Natalie Sing with Karaoke.

Natalie spending the night and day with us.

 Lydia Performing the Rejuvenation Ritual 

that we made up

(basically throwing flower petals on yourself or others)

Try it, it works.

 Gary wasn't quite so sure.  

He was more concerned about who was

going to clean up all the flower petals.

A little more pampering.

Can you guess which hands and feet are Lydia's?

Lydia staking claims to my "Friend," when I die.  

Not that she's hurrying it along or anything.

 In fact tonight as we were sitting outside, she randomly said, 

"You guys are never going to die."

Very sweet.

This T-shirt

of  Lydia's says it all.

Lydia has to be the most patient sister in the world.  She sits through ball games all summer for her three oldest brothers.  When Marshall is old enough, that will make four brothers she is following.  That's why we felt she needed a little girl pampering.

She is a delight!

Remember the

Adventures of Flat Eliza?

Well, this week we will follow the adventures of "Real Lydia."

She arrived by air tonight, all by herself.

 Where she was greeted excitedly by Us.

She arrived at Bunny Hollow Bed and Breakfast at about 10:30 pm,

Where she tried out the amenities in her room

(like the vibrating chair pad).

  That is until Grandpa took it over,

and we had to kick him out so she could go to bed.