Our Fourth of July weekend without fireworks

I've been so excited for the Fourth of July to come. I was looking forward to going to the Masonic home, setting up a spot and then hitting all the food vendors before sitting down to watch the fireworks. Last year Belle FLIPPED out and we had to leave. I believe it was because we were too close to where they set the fireworks off. I thought she'd be better this year since she's gotten over most of her sensitivity to sound. Well we'll never know.

We ended up heading to Ohio earlier than planned and went to a family reunion on Saturday in Cincinnati. Belle was up all day swimming and never got a nap and by the time we got home, she was losing her mind she was so tired. So no trip to fireworks, not even able to set off some in the yard.

I was really impressed with how Belle handled herself in the water. Last year she was really scared, but this year she had her shark. She loves going swimming with that thing.

Aunt Gail, AJ and Belle getting ready to hit the pool


Belle seemed to attach herself to Nic's cousin Emily for quite awhile in the pool. Notice Nic in the background playing full contact pool basketball. He is quite literally black and blue from all that fun.


Nic took Belle up the slide and she was none too happy about it. In the end though she kept saying it was "so fun", but never did want to go down again.


The kids and I finished up the weekend in Troy where we met my friend Megan from high school. It had been 5 years since I saw her last. Her daughter was about Ethan's age I think.


We met at the park and the kids got to play together. Afterwards we left the kids with their grandmas and went to K's for lunch so we could actually carry on a conversation. =)

Seth(14mos), Elise (5.5yrs), Belle (3 yrs), and JJ (7yrs)


The birth buddies even got to see each other. Seth and Brody were born on the same day.


Does this look familiar? Ethan is just returning the favor.




And look what Ethan has started doing this weekend. It started when I found him clinging to the side of the crib standing up screaming. He had a death grip on the bars and didn't know how to get down.


Whew!! That was a long one.

Oh and look at what happened to Nic when they set off fireworks at his parents. He said it flew at him and hit him the stomach about as hard a paintball gun. I guess he taught my niece and nephew a few new words. =)