Happy 7th of July!

Because the 4th has come and gone.

With being at my parents' and helping them prepare for their move and visiting my grandma numerous times at the nursing home and getting my hair done by my sister, the 4th kind of came and went without much fanfare.

My childhood hometown has an annual 4th celebration at the park. It's been going on for over 100 years. It's something I did every year as a child and my children have participated in more years of their lives than not.

But this year, nobody really felt like going, except for Brynne. So instead of making everybody go, and wear some kind of matching t-shirt that I had come up with, I just let everybody do what they wanted and Brynne and I headed to the park for the festivities.

She played in the bounce house.

She did the egg race and sack race (and had two bad partners in the egg toss and water balloon toss).

When we got home, her and Eli went swimming. This was our last time swimming at my parents' pool, since they are moving. And by the end of our visit they were jumping off the diving board without any rings and swimming very well in the deep end!

Eli and Brynne with their beloved Grandma Leta (my mom).

Then before the day was over we ran by and visited my grandma for a bit.

My mom, my grandma and me.

To end the day, my sister and Brynne sat outside and watched the fireworks that were going on at the park.

We are now back home and the laundry room is filled with dirty laundry, suitcases, toys and all of the heirlooms I took from my grandma's house (heirlooms to me, anyway) and those that my mom sent with me from her house. Today I'll be cleaning, putting away, and working on history lessons for Dawson. From busy to busy.