Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

It was a beautiful weekend. We had world cup, go Germany! We had a good cook out with fresh tomatoes and summery eggplant. We had our annual tye-die with extra colors from Aunt Pammy. We had family visitors and we went to the 2nd annual Mount Airy Fireworks show.

Megan was aged out of some of the activities. She is not to be trusted with a bottle of pink dye for instance. She has discovered Play Doh and so doesn't mind in the least being excluded from much.

Kiernan declared independence from his fear of hair clippers. That was great! I think from now on we will be able to cut his hair at home a good bit. He has a Mohawk for the time being but he says that now he wants hair like daddy's. David is afraid that he will look like a chemo boy. I am a little worried he will look like Caillou.

Still we have more than a month before school starts so now is the time to try it.

Also aawwwww he wants to be like David. That boy has good taste.

Kiernan had a very good weekend. He got to battle Uncle Chris in Minecraft. This is something he talks about all the time. Chris is so patient and great with the kids. Young Kaleb is a lucky boy.

The kids got to play with the tamer fireworks at home;

soak in the pool on the deck while we did the tye-die,

and play around during world cup matches.

Megan also got some pink hair, much to her delight.

Sorry for the blur here, this girl sits still enough for a good picture very rarely these days.

David wrangled the kids while mom and I tied up the blackberries. Please click on this picture to admire all our blackberry tying glory.

This was about an hour and a half of pruning, weed whacking, and tying up. We really aren't getting many berries this year as we cut the canes down to the ground last fall. All their energy has gone into growing back up. On the other hand we are getting some berries and the rows if I can keep them in the same order and let the new growth only, come up where the rows are now then by next year these are going to be fantastic.

Also blackberries and raspberries really don't want to be messed with. Good gracious the scratches!

Megan played futbol and Kiernan played red card.

On the evening of the 5th (rain delay) Kiernan and Aunt Lore and I went over to the carnival grounds to settle in for the fireworks. She left before things really got going but did contribute the essential life experience of funnel cake and deep-fried candy-bar. 

Kiernan and I enjoyed the show and stayed out way way way too late. His bed time is right around 8 pm. but we didn't get home until 11!

Kiernan was very excited and sort of adorably little boy cocky at the fair grounds. He was strutting around like he owned the place. He showed off his red balloon and chomped on his deep fried Twix and used his manly inflection (semi-belligerent and very cheerful). He has been doing this mini-manly thing for the last few weeks on and off. Its very charming.

While we were sitting and waiting for it to get really dark he started to get a bit nervous. He asked to go home and I distracted him. He asked to go home again and I told him that we were staying for the fireworks. He asked one more time and I gave him a hug and some napkin sourced earplugs. 

After the first big boom of the fireworks he looked at me with a big smile and said "Mom! I love fireworks! These aren't scary at all!".

I was relieved and pleased to say the least.

He proceeded to yell and scream and cheer for the rest of the show.

Megan spent a quiet evening with daddy. I imagine she will be old enough in 2 or 3 years and then we will all have a show together.