3rd of July Neighborhood Parade

We live in a great neighborhood to say the least.

Each year a group of neighbors get together to plan a patriotic children's parade. Bikes are donned with flags and crepe paper, faces are painted, and we scramble to get someone to play patriotic music. The parade winds its way around the neighborhood with a ribbon of kids decked out in red, white, and blue, and a bunch of enthusiastic adults who guide the way. This year was our fifth parade, and it was the biggest so far. Our friend Ashley was the trumpet player. She's only 13 and it was her first time trying to play and march at the same time. Anna taped sheet music to the back of her shirt and they were off. A novice pied piper of sorts.

We tied a flag cape around Anders shoulders and to the belt loops on his shorts and he scooted along with a bunch of other boys. Kuba was pulled in last years eagle wagon. The parade ended back at the park with a neighborhood potluck and celebration. It is such a great way to celebrate the fourth.

Ain't Nothin' Like a Good Costume

Grandpa's Here!

Lemonad and Cooce Sale

Ever since our big cookie baking extravaganza at Christmas, Anders has wanted to have a cookie sale. We waited until the weather was nice and we had enough time to bake. So Anders and Kuba helped bake vanilla chip cookies and painted the signs.
"A bag uv cooces 50cents, a cup of lemonad 25cents."
The sign wouldn't be complete without the glass full of lemonade and the cookie, though I like Anders spelling the best.
I think the boys made about $10.00.
That meant absolutely nothing to them.
The experience though, was priceless.

ANTS

Kuba has a thing for ants. We had them in our house this spring and he has since become obsessed. At first he just watched them crawl. He then moved on to trying to pick them up and take them outside. He has since hardened his heart and has started to squash them. Yesterday we spotted an enormous pavement ant colony attempting to conquer a nearby colony. Thousands of battling ants. Kuba was mesmerized. He could not take his eyes off of them and repeatedly reached down to touch the pile of moving ant bodies...sometimes coming up with a finger full of ants that he quickly shook off.
Fun.
Really fun to watch him watch the ants.
I think life is one big science lesson with my boys.

My Garden Statue

Balloon, Balloon Come Over To Us!

Two years ago Kuba and I were taking a walk around a pond near our house when we spotted a hot air balloon in the sky. It was a perfect summer evening and it seemed as if the balloon was headed right in our direction. I made up a spontaneous little jingle "Balloon, balloon, come over to us!" which we sang and sang hoping to lure it closer. I soon realized that it wasn't headed our way, so I took Kuba and we jumped into the car to chase the balloon. The whole time Kuba and I continued singing our catchy little tune until finally the balloon made a crash landing in a big box store parking lot. It was thrilling. Kuba was only 18 months old and still remembers when the big balloon hit the building. The balloon and everyone in it was fine, but it was slightly surrealistic to watch an enormous hot air balloon floating slowly over a thousand parked cars. We chased a few other hot air balloons that summer and that little tune stuck with us.

Last summer Anna, Anders, Kuba, and I chased a hot air balloon across 3 towns until it landed in a giant open meadow. It is indescribably fun to chase down a balloon. Everyone needs to keep their eye on the balloon and predict where it is headed. Lots of wrong turns, u-turns and then a big hallelujah! when you find the landing sight. And you have to be quick because you want to be there for the landing. Last year when we found the balloon we parked, jumped out of the car and charged across the field to watch as the balloon was caught and brought down. We stayed and watched as the basket of people unloaded, as the balloon was deflated, rolled up and packed.
They always take flight on beautiful summer evenings right before sunset, so the evening and weather is always perfect.

It now seems to have become a family tradition because just the other day we spotted yet another hot air balloon in the sky right near our home. Yes, we jumped into the car and followed it! We predicted that it was going to land on the college campus near us, so Anna parked the car and we chased it on foot. This was even more fun than following it by car because it was low as it slowly sailed over us. It was magical. We chased it to a nearby field and watched as they brought it down. Anders, his friend Hazel, and Kuba even helped with the packing up of the balloon this time. And of course we sang our tune...."Balloon, balloon, come over to us!"