Happy Fourth of July 2011!

I'm super late on updating this blog, but I want to capture this wonderful weekend before catching up on the fun we've been having the last couple of months. We spent the weekend much like normal. Our normal is still really something, though.

Joshua wakes up in the morning wanting a good hug, then time to play with blocks or arrange his little animals. After a few minutes of playing together, Mike brings a guitar into the kitchen for music time while I cook. Weekend breakfasts are multigrain pancakes or waffles. I sing as Mike plays guitar, then Joshua joins us to help Mike play guitar or watch me cook as he sits on my hip. We went for a lovely walk around the college, Mike swam while Joshua and I read. Then, Mexican food for lunch and naps for everyone. Swimming, barbecue dinner, church, more playing, then watching part of a movie together on the couch. Joshua loves Shrek, Jungle Book, and Dumbo right now. When Joshua goes to bed, Mike and I do a p90x workout.

Mike is on the mayor's committee to determine a plan for the land under the homes destroyed by the big flood three years ago. So, we all went to the Franklin Festival, where Mike ran a booth for public input. The highlights of the festival were Joshua's reactions to the community band and the water fountain. Joshua's face lit up with a huge Oh! when the music started. At the end of every song, he was the first person to break into applause. Such a music enthusiast!

It was one of those wonderful toddler days when he seems so big during the day- climbing, running, feeding himself with a spoon, choosing books and clothes, and helping put laundry into the washer. But at night, Joshua wanted to snuggle in my arms with a cup of milk, in almost nursing position, before going to bed. I love the big hugs and snuggling. He's so long now, he is almost as long as his crib when stretched out. When he goes to sleep, though, he's face down with his knees drawn up under him, next to his reindeer.

Mike is as romantic as ever. While walking to the car during the last bit of our date, he commented on how pretty the moon was, in the same crescent shape as the one the fishing child sits on at the beginning of some movies. We enjoyed watching fireworks in neighborhoods the whole way home. Like giant fireflies guiding us home.