4th of July, installment 3

So after biking and boating all afternoon, I met Brent, Danny and Derek at the park. After playing for a little while, we went to my parents' house to wait for it to get dark enough for fireworks. Little D really enjoyed the show - he kept pointing at the colors and oohing and ahhing. It was a happy end to a happy day.
Look at how big he is! He's not a baby anymore.... sigh.
I enjoyed the swinging more than Derek did, apparently :)
Brent gets credit for this one.

He was watching some other kids light fireworks. This pictures makes me smile :)
Derek was none too happy about having to sit on Danny's lap for the fireworks, but as we like to say, SAFETY FIRST!
A proud man and his lighter

I said I'd post more pictures today, but no. Blogger is too slow for impatient me, and I'd rather go eat cherries. But I do have some neat ones with Brent, Danny and Derek at the park and then watching fireworks, and they should appear soon. [It's funny that I feel compelled to make excuses for not posting, when I think maybe only two other people look at this thing besides me. I like to pretend there's some vast audience out there, waiting on pins and needles for more about my simple little life. Silly :) ]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any more fun...

Allow me to explain my 4th of July fun. I spent all day with Derek, Sara, Eric and Tessa at Glen & Irene's house on the water. We cruised (see yesterday's post), we boated, we cruised some more, and someday (soon!!) we will do it again. Can I just say that spending time with my family and friends is one of the things that makes my world go round, so thanks, you four. And that was just the day time! Stay tuned for the third installment of my holiday, coming tomorrow....

Having a picture of Eric in the water instead of on the water perhaps implies that he spent all of his time thrashing around, trying to get up. But no, this is not true. I just didn't get any decent pictures of him hopping over waves and flying through the air :) Sara represents!! (Tessa and I cheered her on from the safety of the boat. Someday we'll get brave enough to go on the tube, but only if Eric drives the boat at 5 mph.)

I love the 4th!

1-800-FINKS-RULE

While cruising around, we passed a group of 9- or 10-year-old boys who nodded at us and said, "Cool bikes.... Old school." Hahahahahahaha.

I like songs

Below is a nice song for a sunny summer day.

All God's creatures got a place in the choir
Some sing low, and some sing higher
Some sing out loud on the telephone wire
And some just clap their hands or paws or anything they got, now ..

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus
Moans and groans with a big t'-do
And the old cow just goes moo

The dogs and the cats, they take up the middle
While the honeybee hums and the cricket fiddler
The donkey brays and the pony neighs
And the old coyote howls

Listen to the top where the little birds sing
On the melody with the high notes ringing
The hoot owl hollers over every-thing
And the jay bird disa-grees

Singing in the night time, singing in the day
The little duck quacks, then he's on his way
The 'possum ain't got much to say
And the porcupine talks to himself I

t's a simple song of living sung everywhere
By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear
The grumpy alligator and the hawk above
The sly raccoon and the turtle dove

Handsome man

Father's Day and the Pink Fink

Today was really a lovely day. After meeting, John, Gayle, Brent, Danny, Little D and I drove to Derek and Sara's for lunch. After that, we went for a bike ride around their neighborhood (I am now totally hooked on cruisers! - how cool is that Pink Fink?!). Tonight I ate dinner with my parents, and then caddied for my dad at the golf course - excellent father/daughter bonding time. Finally, just a few minutes ago, I ate cheesecake and took a bath (but not at the same time, although I've done things like that before). Anyway, I was able to hang out with the people I love (including three of the best dads around), be outside, and eat dessert, all of which makes for a very fine time.

I like summer because...

Happy things about summer:
- Flip flops
- Fruit stands that sell Ranier cherries
- Daylight that lasts until 9:00 at night
- the 4th of July with its fireworks (and all of the food associated with it)
- Camping with the Centralia crew
- Fairs, mostly because I can look at barnyard animals
- Church conventions
- Watermelon
- Fireflies

Crazy sculptures

One weekend in May, Brent, Danny, Little D and I took a trip to Mount Ranier. On the way back we stopped at this somewhat random outdoor sculpture place and this is what we saw....


Derek and Sara, this is for you!

Animals!

I'm not sure Derek knew what to think about this guy.

This is the best shot I could get :)

The zoo, a fine place to visit

Brent and Danny bought Derek this monkey in the gift shop, he hugged on it for about 20 seconds, and then tossed it onto the pavement, at which point I ran over it with the stroller. So much for a souvenier from our day at the zoo :)

Ry visits

My not-so-little little brother :)

Derek and Sara's house

I am willing to post this wretched picture of me because he is so blasted cute. And that, my friends, is the sacrifice of an aunt.

Friday at Derek and Sara's was so fun! Susan and Sara made a fabulous dinner, we played a new game, and we watched a slide show that Ryan made documenting his time in Iraq. Let's do it again, you guys!

Birthday fun

The Centralia posse

Soren and Leyla sitting in a tree.. :)

Bill and his birthday pie
It was getting late and we were getting tired. This is what happens when you get old.

The ocean, one more time

This would be the cover of our next CD.