4th of July and Extras!

These pics are a little behind, but it's been a VERY FULL summer!  Most of you can probably relate!  What happened to the "dog days" of summer as evinced by most of my childhood memories?!?  :)

Here are a few mid-summer photos and memories around the 4th of July!

 Modeling eyewear at Cafe Sed... I especially like the strategic placement of the price tags... ;)

 Eric fell asleep in his carseat one afternoon and when I came out from doing something in our room, Candi happily informed me that she had given him a pet so he wouldn't feel lonely.  Curiously, I lifted up the blanket to find him clenching Ithan's birthday frog -- at least it wasn't alive!!!  You never know with our daughter... :)

 4th of July started off with green eggs and ham!  Since the attempt at using blue food coloring failed miserably, the kids decided that we really were celebrating America's Independence Day, but also Mexico's since that's where we live... right.  Thanks anyway, kiddos, for making something up to make Mom feel better... :)

 Joel and I found this ice pail at a second-hand store and it's been a fun way to serve our drinks this summer!

 4th of July spread!!!

 Complete with a traditional flag cake... 

 ... and a not-so-traditional schedule board!

 Mmmmmmmmmmm.... I love Mexican hot dogs!  They just do them right!  :)

 Ithan's first time eating watermelon with the rind... it was a MESS.

So, of course, he enjoyed it!

 We had sparklers after dinner...

 ... which all of the kids loved!

 As his sparkler got closer and closer to his hand, Ithan kept breathing in and making his "hot" noise... :)

 Firework time then turned into "catching frogs" time... NOT surprising!!!

 "Guarding" the frogs, so they can't escape!

What a fun night for our family... :)

Joel snapped the following photos of two of our boys reading...

 ...totally absorbed.

 "Why are you interrupting us?!?"

 My new favorite outfit for Ithan -- it's especially handy when he's crabby and you can ask him where the crab is and he points at himself!  ;)

Yes, I get a lot of joy out of that... hehe.

 First time playing Nintendo with Dad!

All cute 'n stuff... :)

Hard to believe he's already almost five months old!

We still haven't heard anything about the kids' papers, but thank you for your continued prayers!