our Fourth...a week later

i think the heat wave

has limited my ability to be

motivated to upload pictures,

and find the energy to type words.

and cook... & clean... (kidding, sort of)

we found ourselves on the morning of the fourth

with just Gracie, so Brian & I took her somewhere

she has never been in her three years home...

the zoo.

 no "parents of the year"

award for us!

i think after our not-so-pleasant

zoo experience in China, we 

have psychologically 

avoided that little venture.

BUT

we prevailed in the heat,

and Gracie loved it.

the cutest tour guide ever

love this

a zoo trip is not complete

w/o cotton candy

true dat, Gracie

then we got to visit Ali @ work!

i really broke the bank on fireworks...
a couple of boxes of sparklers.

Erin's all fizzled out

(in more ways than one - she volunteered

10 hours a day last week, 7am- 5pm,

with kids @ Winshape camp. i think

she's just now catching up on rest!)

feelin safe during the festivities

w/ Annie Oakley around

glad i didn't break the bank on
fireworks, b/c it seems our neighbors did!
come to find out in our new little
cul-de-sac a couple of neighbors go all out
to celebrate the fourth.
we're talking over an hour's worth of fireworks...
& they weren't lame either.
the. real. deal.

"front row" seat

and here's our newest baby

saying, "happy birthday America!"