Busy July continued

Independence Day! Jeff and I had a pretty laid back morning and afternoon which literally means we cleaned, took care of business etc., BUT quiet for us.

Evening was different though. We had all (save Brandon) decided to gather at our former firecracker watch spot from years ago. Jeff wanted to have a picnic dinner. So I brought a salad for Charissa and I which I adapted from a hot pasta dish I enjoyed in Panama City Beach. I fried chicken in the morning and let it get cold. We bought chips, and watermelon. We had blankets, and sheets and oh yes, poppers (the little things you throw on the ground that make a popping sound) Neil and Charissa brought OMG good sweets, doughnuts, and cookies oh my!

It was also fun to watch Charissa interact on a different level as a 'mom' as she took up a conversation with a woman who came over to compare babies. It was just neat seeing do the mom thing, comparing stories, babies, respecting the other woman's opinion though it differed from her own, making new friends.

After we ate I took Dizzy over to play on the playground equipment. He dazzled me with his new found abilities. He reminded me so much of Charissa as a little girl I couldn't help but laugh. She is a little older in this picture, I think by about 2 years, but if there was a bar that stood still, that child was hanging from it. Swings were as good as a trapeze. Dizzy was actually hanging from the swing in another shot, but you couldn't see his face.

After it started to get dark we settled on the blankets and it got REALLY cold! I can't say as I remember a cold July 4th when I was little in the Midwest.

Finally after a long wait the firecrackers started and the 'oohs and ahhs' resounded, OH and did I mention wailing. Donovan did NOT like the noise of the fireworks. Dizzy a few years prior shuddered and covered his ears. This year he climbed up in my lap and oohed and aahed along with the rest of them. I went to cover his ears remembering the terror it struck for years to come and he said "It's ok Grandma I like it! It's all part of the fireworks." I do hope Donovan follows suit!