Starting our celebrations a bit early!

Tonight there was a NC Symphony Orchestra concert and fireworks at the downtown amphitheatre. We took the kids to this last year and we all really enjoyed it, so we decided to go again this year. We packed up the camping chairs and some snacks and enjoyed the nice weather (it was humid, but there was a nice breeze).

Reid even sang along when the crowd joined in a chorus of "God Bless America". Now, I'm not exactly sure what verse he was singing, but it was cute none the less.

I cannot really tell you much about the fireworks. It is interesting to note that, as a parent, I was too busy watching the kids reactions to the fireworks to actually pay attention to them.



Of course, all this fun was after a busy day playing in the pool. Those kids should be ready for a nap tomorrow. We'll have to get them rested up for the big Fort Bragg celebration on the 4th! Now, I know those will be some good fireworks!

Mr. Smiley

I love this picture of Ross! And don't you love the chipped tooth? (Yes, Grandpa has already fixed it once, but Ross was skilled enough to break it off again.)

Done painting!

I finished up the last of the painting project today. I painted the bedroom in April, but had left the bathroom the same neutral beige it has been since we moved in. I'm glad I painted it, though, because I think it looks much better having the rooms match. Did I mention the rooms are green? Really, really green!!! I love the color -- it is so bright and fun. The splash of color almost makes up for the fact that the rest of my house is really neutral.

The project, however, has exhausted me. I'm bigger than I had realized and had a lot of problems maneuvering into corners. I spent a good deal of this morning scrubbing paint off of the counter and tub where I dripped.

And now I have NO desire to paint anything anytime soon!

I really hate the drivers here!

So, I forgot to mention this, but about two weeks ago someone hit Jeremy's car in the parking lot at work. The damage wasn't too bad (just cosmetic) and the car is drivable. We're waiting to have it fixed, though, because the body shop is just too busy.

Yesterday, John & Betty were nice enough to take Reid (and Ross went, too) to speech therapy. On the way back they were rear-ended in my van (and, don't worry, no one was hurt and it was completely the other drivers fault). Now, the van is drivable, but the back door won't open. So, I'm stuck with a yucky (meaning cheap and dirty) rental vehicle until further notice. Jeremy is dropping the van off today to get the estimate and I'm really hoping they can get the work done right away.

People here really do drive like psychos. I miss the polite driving of Columbus!

I can't reach my toes!

I tried to touch up the paint on my toenails this morning while I was waiting for Hannah at swimming. They look AWEFUL!!! There is paint smeared all over my toes...guess I'm going to need some help with them for the remainder of the pregnancy!

Of course, this is a wonderful excuse to book a pedicure...

Random things...

So, I'm pretty sure I do not have GD (yeah for that)!!! I somehow got ahold of my lab results, so unless they use different criteria to diagnose GD than what I was able to find, I'm okie-dokie! Whew...I was worried about it, as people had already started talking about an early induction due to GD.

John & Betty are visiting this week, so I'm using the opportunity to do a few projects. I tore my bathroom apart this morning and have the walls almost prepped and ready for the paint. Hopefully I can finish up before they head out of here.

The pool is officially up and running, with all the chemicals in it and the pump working as it should. I cannot wait to get the concrete in, but I'm not holding my breath. The two week wait will be up on the 4th, which means they probably won't get to us until the following week (or at least I hope so, those guys put in LONG days and deserve a few days off for the holiday). The kids are loving it! We swam twice yesterday and everyone was exhausted by the end of the day.

Swim, swim, swim!!!

Hannah got her first official dip in the pool on Saturday. She spent 4, yes FOUR, hours in the water!!! And she spent almost as many in the water on Sunday. (Jeremy spent the weekend working on the backyard and so Hannah could be out there pretty much all day.) I thought she was going to fall asleep in her dinner plate on Saturday night!

We all have had our opportunity for a dip, now, and I must say I am really glad we put it in! The boys LOVE it, although I think they love their pool "noonls" (ahem, that would be pool noodle) as much as they love the pool itself. We need to get a few more of them, though, because the kids are fighting over the two we have.