It took me an hour to download these pictures. This is a new computer too. I am very confused. But darnit, I was determined. Chloe is at her grandparent's for the week. I miss my Chloe. But I intend to do some deep cleaning while she is gone. I have been finding little drawings on many of my walls. All of the same thing. A person that looks like an alien. Oh to be inside that child's head for a day....

Yesterday was the 4th of July and I forgot to take any pictures. But I am somewhat grateful because that would have probably taken another hour to download those. we had planned on going south for a small town fireworks show, but the state of Arizona is on fire so it was cancelled. Boo. But we had a great day nonetheless. We went to our church's pancake breakfast and I was extremely grateful for shade and a breeze. My friend and I sang a little "My Country Tis of Thee" and started out on the wrong notes. I sure love embarrassing moments like these. And by the end of the song both of our children were standing in front of us.

Chloe's little friend to which I am referring is "Mo." And the two of them are the most hilarious pair. They are like an old married couple. Chloe is the bossy, domineering wife, and Mo is along for the ride. Literally. Most times I find them, Chloe is pulling in him in a wagon, or doing all the work on the teeter totter. And both of them are quite happy with their roles.

The other day I was babysitting and this was their idea for entertainment. It started out with this conversation:
Mo: "She's naked! She needs some clothes!"
Chloe: "Let's tape her to the wall! Then she won't be naked!"

Something like that. It was in 4 year old language.

And then they taped every toy they could find to the wall.

That night as I was laying in bed, I kept hearing a kerplunk. And I kept thinking someone was trying to break into my house. Silly me. It was just the toys falling off the wall. One by one.

Dad's Birthday was on July 2nd, and I asked him what he wanted to do. He said "oh, well we could maybe have a bowl of ice cream."

Before or after we watch CSPAN?

I said, really? That is all you want to do? So then he said maybe we could have some sandwiches or spaghetti.

Well my brother and I tried to think of some way to sparkle things up a bit because eating a sandwich for your birthday sounded really, really lame.

Well my brother saved the day and brought me back some groceries and we made a spaghetti dinner. And by the way, not to toot my own horn, (okay I am going to toot it) but my Dad said it was the best spaghetti he had had in a really long time.

My brother made a pineapple upside cake and Chloe was his sou chef. She insisted on doing everything and my brother was oh so kind to oblige. It took twice as long to make but Chloe loved it.

I think my Dad enjoyed his Birthday dinner and I think it was celebrated in proper Birthday fashion.

June 29th we celebrated Adam's birthday, and where in the world is Adam the birthday boy in this picture? We went out for....wait for it....spaghetti!! sigh.

And then came back to my house for cake.

And here are some catch up pictures:

Dear Macie, you get your thighs from me. you're welcome.

Chloe at her gymnastics "Showcase for the Stars." More like "Showcase of indifference towards following directions."

Chloe's very last minute Birthday party.

Clearly to her, a party is a party, no matter how last minute! And this is why I love children.

I had to take a picture after church because I had inadvertently put us all in coordinating colors. And Don matched too! But he refused to get in the picture. Also, we needed someone to take the picture. I am glad we took a picture because as you can see, it came out really well.