Pumpkin Carving

Our church has always done a pumpkin carving party, but this year it didn't happen in the traditional way and instead we all went to the Hoffmans' house to carve our pumpkins and play together, yesterday. Fun time with friends.

4th of July

The 4th of July is kind of a big deal around here. Americans celebrate their independence and freedom and there are parades and fireworks, as well as our good friend Alice's birthday. Double celebrations, great memories.
For the last couple of years we have all headed out to Sonoma for the afternoon and evening. It's a bit of a trek but they put on a great firework display and we all stay up far too late and then fight the horrendous traffic to get home. I'm not kidding when I say it can take an hour just to get out of the parking lot and inch out of town. We love it though.

So fun having so many friends join us.

Alice and one of her cakes - I think we ended up with 3?

So fun, 'Uncle' David brought sparklers...but then a policeman rode up and told us were weren't allowed to use them :( oh well they got a few minutes in before finding that out.

As we were losing light I put my real camera away to enjoy the show with everyone else and just grabbed a couple more snaps with my phone. It got pretty darn cold but the anticipation and blankets help.

Iphone photos in the dark are not great, but one of me and my love!

The stuff that memories are made of!

Arran has such a phenomenal memory and constantly astounds me with the level of detail he remembers. Last Summer, a family from our church (who also happen to be the parents of good friends of ours) opened up their garden for picnics after church and would invite everybody over. The kids loved it.

Ever since the weather has started to improve, Arran has asked, on more than one occasion, when we could go back to Gracie's Grandma's house? Well this weekend was the weekend!

The weather was lovely, the kids did great and had so much fun all just hanging out, being kids, playing, eating, paddling, splashing. These are the things that I want to be etched in their memories. The memories of childhood.

I think the only thing missing was watermelon!