The Fourth of July!

Happy BirthDay America the Beautiful!

The day was pretty low key, not much happened. We pretty much spent most of the day catching up on things around the house. I was able to go visit a friend who I had not seen forever. We had a nice time sitting in the sun and having some awesome laughs about life.

Originally I had thought of having a cook-out with family and friends, but that got pushed aside due to just having alot on our plate. We did have my friend of thirty three years, Wendy and her son come over to watch the fireworks. My sister, Henry and Sam came too. But about 20 minutes before the fireworks were to start, Sam had other plans and crashed on me. So they took him home. Where we live we can see the firework show from Downtown Toledo. However now that the kids are older we said next year we want to go downtown to watch them.

After the 25 minute "Red, White and Boom" show, we put the kids to bed, and Wendy, Brian and I watched the fireworks that people in the neighborhood were setting off. It was so bad that the neighborhood was full of egg smelling fog.

Liam getting to hold his "first" sparkler. He was pretty geeked about the whole thing, that was until he felt a spark on his hand! Then he just had everyone else hold them for him. This was his first fourth of July where he stayed up to see the fireworks. Every time one went off he would point and yell "Da Fireworks, seeee, Firewoorks, I see the fireworks!"

The big hit was the Snaps you throw on the ground. They are alot of fun, except when you have a million little papers all over the place! : )

A very burned Henry, Lavinia making sure these Snaps are just paper

and funky sock Samuel.

A Day for Art

We love art! Brian and I have always had that in common. We have both been blessed with not only the love of art, but we have some creative genes of our own. Though Brian by far is the most accomplished in his creativity! Every year the Toledo Botanical Gardens hosts the Crosby Arts Festival. The artists come from all over to set up in one of the most beautiful places here in Toledo. Brian had never been to the festival, so I was excited for him to go. We got a babysitter for a few hours and made it a date "day" of it.

The coolest artist was a doll maker. She hand makes these dolls. I really wanted one. Each doll had their own individual look and story. We spent some time talking to her, she was just as cool as her creations. Her business is called The Doll Makers.com. Check them out!

Throughout the gardens are incredible sculptures. This one is one of my favorites. However, this photo does not give it justice. It is very three dimensional and enormous. Plus I think it is time to update our camera, it is not acting right. Or maybe just maybe it is the operator!





This cabin once belonged to the famous Toledo settler and War of 1812 scout Peter Navarre. He was the brother to my 5th Great-grandfather, Antoine Navarre. I wish these walls

could talk! The cabin was brought to the gardens years ago for protection and safe keeping.

THE FRUIT OF THEIR LABOR

Our garden is producing! Lavinia will not let a strawberry go unoticed. As soon as she sees one it is off the plant and in her mouth! However she is not the only one who is enjoying the garden. Our dog Lily has noticed the strawberries and manages to snag a few too. So much for a "bumper crop" of berries!

The Musical

Just an update...

As of now I have only been able to attend one rehersal. Coming home from Young Woman camp, I realized how hectic my week would be. The kids were glued to me, laundry caught up, story time started at the library, and not to mention I got sick. The first rehersal was eye opening. I have alot of singing to do as a "Bird Girl" in the Jungle of Nool. The funny thing about this is the other two girls who are with me are high school girls (the joy of community theater) and they come to my chest. I will probably look like the goofy vultures in Disney's Jungle Book, compared to these "Spring Chicks!"

I have survived Girls Camp 2008

I did it! I went to camp and survived! Despite missing Brian and the kids immensely, I had a fabulous five days. Our young woman in the Toledo Ohio Stake just Rock! Not only did I meet some great young woman, I was able to meet and become friends with some of the leaders from other wards. My favorite part of camp was we had all the girls read a section of the Book of Mormon including the leaders, we read the whole book in 30 minutes. I had to run back to the cabin to get my scriptures and there were groups of young woman sitting all around reading out loud. The words were like music, the spirit surrounded them. At the testimony meeting one girl got up and shared her testimony and made reference to this. She said "you could hear that words were being said, and you could kind of hear them, but what you could hear was the Truth floating all around."