4th of July

WE BEGAN OUR MORNING IN THE MOST PATRIOTIC FASHION BY PAINTING THE LITTLE LADY'S NAILS RED AND BLUE.  KEY WORD THERE BEING FASHION.  THE LITTLE MAN (THE PERPETUAL MONKEY ON MY BACK) COULD NOT RESIST A CLOSE UP.

OUR LITTLE PATRIOTIC RICHARD SIMMONS

(ANY SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES FANS OUT THERE?)

OR PERHAPS, THE LITTLE MAN WAS CHANNELING A PATRIOTIC ELTON JOHN.

AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH, JEFF PLANNED A FUN-FILLED MORNING OF ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE THE 4TH.  OUR DESTINATION: CROCKER PARK IN WESTLAKE, OHIO

WITH TOM PETTY'S "AMERICAN GIRL" BLARING IN THE BACKGROUND, WE PLUGGED IN OUR DESTINATION INTO OUR TRUSTY MAGELLAN AND HIT THE ROAD. 
(THANK THE LORD FOR NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEMS.)

CROCKER PARK TURNED OUT TO BE A LOVELY SHOPPING PROMENADE FULL OF SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS FOR THE CHILDREN.  UNAWARE THAT CROCKER PARK WAS NOT AN ACTUAL PARK UNTIL OUR ARRIVAL, WE WERE THRILLED TO DISCOVER THEY ACTUALLY HAD PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AS THE LITTLE LADY ARRIVED READY TO PLAY.  IN ADDITION, THEY HAD A SMALL SPLASH PARK.  REGRETFULLY, I HAD NOT PACKED THE "SUMMER SUITS," BUT THE LITTLE LADY OFFERED ME GRACE ON THAT ONE.

WHAT THEY DID HAVE IN ADDITION TO PLAY AREAS, WAS A FANTASTIC CLASSIC CAR DISPLAY, CLOWNS, CARNIVAL, AND A VERY TALENTED FACE ARTIST.  AFTER OBSERVING ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL GET HER ENTIRE FACED PAINTED WITH A BUTTERFLY, THE LITTLE LADY DECIDED UPON A SMALL SPARKLY BUTTERFLY ON HER CHEEK.  

"HUH?"

THRILLED WITH THE RESULTS.

NOTICE THE INCLUSION OF GOLD, SPARKLY LIP PAINT.  WHAT A TREAT!

ONE YEAR WE HOPE TO CATCH SOME FIREWORKS; HOWEVER, AT THIS STAGE OF LIFE KEEPING OUR SWEET ONES UP PAST 9:00pm DOES NOT SOUND APPEALING. 

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!