I had to drive home from Wisconsin to photograph a wedding Saturday and will return Sunday morning for our road trip to Indiana (Jessica sister’s family are keeping her company at the cottage while I’m away). So here’s a fun photo of Arthur jumping in Fish Lake.

We're leaving today Sunday for long-awaited two week vacation. One week at Jessica's family cottage in Wisconsin, the other in Indiana visiting my grandmother. See you when we're back!

Art and Lewis have different palates, to say the least. I would say
that art takes after me, having something of a sweet tooth and being
particular about what things feel and look like. Art will routinely
mope through the hosue saying, "I just really wish i could have a
treat…" -A texture and temperature are especially important for his
food. Often times, if he is eating rather slow, he requests his
macaroni and cheese be heated up mid-meal. Food should feel a certain
way in his world. Lewis, on the other hand, is something of a garbage
disposal for fresh food. He will try almost anything (he used to be
known for his "No like it? Try it!" phrase) and doesn't really care
what it looks or feels like. He can eat cold ravioli, oatmeal or
hamburger and will inhale a red pepper in minutes. He loves peppers.Anyway, tonight I made the kids strawberry ice cream cones and Lewis
took a bite of his and said he wanted a different dessert. The
strawberry ice cream was too sour. I told him I didn't have any other
ice cream. He opened the freezer and said, "I know what I want!
THIS! And I want it cold in a BOWL!" And so Lewis had frozen mixed
vegetables for dessert and finished every last one.–
Jessica

Uncle Josh joined us in a bike ride to Powderhorn park for the 10pm fireworks over the lake. A super late night for the boys (they’re bedtime is usually 8pm). Lewis was a little scared of the fireworks and overwhelmed by the million people there. But after I closed his ears from sound and sat him on my lap, he did really well. We got home at 11pm and both boys were asleep by 11:15. WAMBAM!

[This is for my mother…] A fancy ad that ran in the Pioneer Press recently touting the award I won and the many many others our paper won, including first and second place in ‘story of the year’. I really do work with some impressive people who make me better at what I do.

Happy birthday, nation! Art, Lewis, the girls and I went to an old fashioned neighborhood parade near my aunt and unlce’s house complete with a grand finale of all the kids on decorated bikes and spectators walking the parade route to the park. The kids did a lot of waiting today but I think it all paid off for them. They waited for the parade to start and when it did they saw a fire truck, a moving 20ft tower made by the boy scouts and my uncle Brian playing a kazoo in a grass skirt. Then they waited a ling time to ride a pony and they got to do that, too. They were both very excited to do that. The girls brought joy to all who held them, which was a lot of people. I’m not even sure how many. My aunt was in charge of them for almost an hour while we waited for the pony ride and during that time a whole slew of her neighbors took turns holding them. Nice parade. Nice Fourth. Right now, at 10:03, Ben, Josh and the boys are at a park nearby watching the fireworks. Very exciting for a young boy go be out so late! Until Ben gets back with a report about the fireworks here are some pics from today. Thanks for sending them along, Nance!