Stomping ground

We returned to our old stomping ground after dinner the other night.

Elizabeth and Sebastian are total opposites in several ways. But sometime they think the same...like thinking it's funny to ride on the toddler's swing and ride.

July 4th Celebrations

This year we finally decided to take the kids to the city to see the "big" fireworks. We had been talking about it for the past two years. When did we want to "brave" the crowds with two kids? Well on Saturday, we packed up the car and headed to the city. We reserved a hotel room so we didn't have to fight the traffic after the celebrations.

We made it into the city in record time (about 35 minutes). We were completely shocked and surprised. We were expecting to sit in traffic for at least over an hour. The weather was perfect the entire day. Michael said this was a holiday the kids would remember.

Sebastian posing next to giant dominos (I forgot the name of the park)
Next to a game piece.
On top of a chess piece.
This was on the way to the park where they had the festivies.  Sheryl Crow was the highlighted performer for the evening.  We didn't sit any where near the stage because it would have been too loud (yes, I'm getting to that age).
The only tactical error (move) of the evening.  We should have dined in a restaurant instead of eating off some greasy street vendor.  We thought it would be fun to have a picnic.  The atmosphere was nice but NOT the food.  We thought there would be some ethnic flavor and more choices at the festival.  Oh well, live and learn.
Mommy and her little guy.
Sebastian was part of the street performance.  The guy was stretching before he leaped over six people (kids).  The performers also did their street dancing (what we know as break dancing from the 80's).
Finding ways to entertain ourselves for four hours!
Really Mom......it's not what it's all cracked up to be.  They're just lights!
Chillin

Ava loses it a couple times...
Not a happy camper.  She's learned this trick the past few months (throwing herself down to dramatize everything).
Look Ava, your first firework!!
Ava????  Yep, she missed the whole show.  After four hours, she threw in the towel.  Sebastian barely made it also.  I had to roll him to wake him up right before the fireworks.

The massive exit out of the park.  We walked about ten blocks back to the hotel.  What a night!
The good news is that we got to stop at our favorite restaurant for breakfast.  I've been wanting to try their fried chicken, waffles and gravy.  Of course I'm an East coast gal and asked for the gravy on the side (not how you do it in the South).

Hairstyle and new makeover

In case you haven't noticed in the previous pictures, I have "re-introduced" earrings to Ava. A year ago she pulled the earring posts out of her ears and made them bleed. So I tried hoop earrings instead. She has managed to keep them on for a few weeks without any incidences. She doesn't pull on them like she did with the posts.
I also started braiding her hair because she doesn't seem to pull her hair loose from the rubber bands quite as much when they are in braids.

Ava being her usual character while grocery shopping with Mommy.
Turn that frown upside down.

Out of the mouths of babes?

The other morning Sebastian and I were making pancakes.  He notice a few of them sticking together before flipping them and said out loud, "Hey, stop making out!"  I tried to keep a straight face and asked him if he knew what "making out" was.  Of course he knew....I wonder what else he knows??

This is what summer is all about

The usual cast of characters in the backseats.  Elizabeth got to join us on our day of fun.
Ava trying out her new floaty swimsuit.  It didn't work well with her because the first time she dunked herself in the water, she toppled over from the buoyancy and went in face first.  The was the last time the swimsuit was on her.  Luckily I brought her regular swim suit as a spare.
Taylor going down the slide.  Poor Sebastian couldn't or shall I say, wouldn't go down the slide.  He had to take a swim test in the deep end and he hadn't practiced enough since this was our first trip to the pool this summer.  
The gang is all here....Ava, Taylor, Christie, Elizabeth and Sebastian.
We took the kids to the carnival after the pool.
Sebastian was the only one who could brave and stomach and salt and pepper ride.  Two people had to ride in the car so he teamed up with another girl (no, she did not belong to me).

Elizabeth riding with Ava.
Taylor riding with Ava (about four times)!
Oh yeah....I almost forgot about summer allergies.  I was gently reminded how eyes can get swollen due to severe allergy attacks.  This was two hours after I applied the allergy eye drops to my eye.  My girlfriend came to the rescue when my eye blew up like a puffer fish during dinner.  She ran to the pharmacy to get the eyedrops.  She saved me...I literally couldn't see out of my left eye for about 20 minutes.

We "heart" DD

Michael was out of town visiting his Father and Sebastian had spent the night at Mom Mom's and Pop Pop's. Ava and I had breakfast at our favorite place in the whole wide world (yes, Dunkin Donuts) before picking up Sebastian. Of course we remembered to bring a little something to Sebastian ;-)

We had another jam packed Saturday. I took Sebastian to his piano lessons in the morning and then we met up with one of my girlfriends from work and took all of the kids swimming in the afternoon.

Part fish, part mammal

Am I bathing a catfish or a tiny tot?  

I think Ava thinks Marley is part of the family.  I swear if she could grab Marley, I think she would have!