Hi Danielle!!

Now that I know I am entertainment for Danielle while she pumps, I better get better about posting more often. Here's the rundown of F family events: swimming lessons finished on Tuesday 7/3. A will retake Littles I (as will the other two kids in her class). I think I might schedule her for lessons again in the fall. After swimming, we loaded everyone up and headed to Okabena.

Okabena has a great Fourth of July celebration. We had such a great time. We ate lunch in the city park, and looked around before the kiddie parade, followed by the real parade. A sat on the curb with Mike and her cousin Cody. At first when candy was thrown, she would stand above the offering, and decide which piece she'd like. We explained how candy gathering worked, and from that point on she had a blast. The pure joy emanating from her was so heartwarming. She'd turn around and shout, "I got a lollipop!!!" We went home for supper, naps, and baths after the parade, and before fireworks. I think our two were the only kids sleeping in Okabena, when they fell asleep in the car as we drove back into town before the fireworks. They woke up just in time, and we watched fireworks with the kids sitting on our laps in the front seat of the truck. That actually worked out really well, because with the A/C running, the loud blasts were muffled somewhat, and the kids didn't get frightened. The rest of the week included helping Grandpa F fix the fence so the cows couldn't escape again at Great Grandma F's, and playing with cousins.

We left Okabena on Friday, headed for Bristol (just outside of Kenosha, WI) for the Progress Days fastpitch tournament. We stopped in Madison to visit Bridget and Maren, and left Shug with them for the weekend. The kids got soaking wet in Maren's backyard pool, and we had to borrow clothes for the drive to Kenosha. We stayed in a hotel in Waukegan, IL, where I went to PA school, so Mike and I had lots of fun seeing how things have changed, and visiting our must-eat spots (Kaiser's Pizza on Milwaukee (Rte 21) off of 41 is amazing (thin crust).) Progress Days ended with yet another parade and fireworks display on Sunday. This parade had more candy thrown at the crowd than anywhere else I've ever been! A has a gallon ziploc stuffed until the zipper broke, plus some runoff, which will keep us going until Halloween. [For some reason, I've decided that she can have gum when she turns 3 and a half, so I've been eating all of the dubble bubble.]

Our family enjoying some post-game refreshments out of the back of the truck (typical softball scene). [ I just realized after posting the pictures that it looks as if B spends his whole life in a stroller- NOT the case, just happenstance picture choosing.]

Mike's team had another game to play after the fireworks, and the kids weren't going to go back to sleep in their carseats after fireworks, so they watched the game from a blanket, wearing their pajamas, and were up until after 11 p.m.! So we've been having some trouble getting everyone back on a normal sleeping schedule. A had a lot of trouble falling asleep last night until almost 9- the fun part was that she slept until 9 a.m.! I'd rather have her back to her usual 7p-7a though, for consistency's sake.

A friend of Mike's might come tomorrow to give us an estimate on new windows for the basement. We got the final plans from our architect, and he also sent them to the custom woodwork guy he uses (and who Danielle and Mark used). We are planning on a little fieldtrip to Loretto (even farther west than Maple Grove, Hope) to take a look at our slap of soapstone for the countertop. Mike heard about a place near 7 corners that carries old radiators, so we might head there to pick out a small one to add to the basement. And we've got some guys coming on Monday to take a final look before starting to move the pipes up into the joists. It's coming along- not as fast as I would like, but it's encouraging to see the progress.