She's Having A Baby!

It's a little weird when your friends have babies.  It makes you consider your age - are we grown ups?  When did this happen?  This thought has recently been reinforced by the fact that my brother is about to be a father.  It's weird.  But it's also really exciting, and gives me a great reason to take a roadtrip to see my friend and her family, and have an extraordinary Easter dinner.  And it gives me a reason to go shopping.  A lot.

One of the things I love so much about Lisa is that she has a clear childlike sensibility - we both do.  We are, at times, silly girls.  We can see the world from a child's point of view - we find joy and beauty in simple things.  Like dying Easter eggs, and dressing up cats.

This quality not only helps us get along so well, it's going to help her be a great mother.  Lisa's ability to find humor and fun in small things will make the difficult times in parenting a little easier, and will help Baby Owen learn how to be a great person, just like his Mama.

Jude is 10.

These boys.  I remember the days they were born.  They are the first children I've known in this way - being able to see them grow and learn from an adult's perspective has been fascinating.  They (and their family, particularly their mother) have taught me so much about life, as much as my own family has.   They make me happy, and very grateful.

The 2nd of his 3 cakes!  Becky made this one.

Let Your Colors Burn

The 4th of July has always been kind of an in-between holiday for me.  When I was a little kid, it was a sign that summer was really starting.  It was like 2 weeks after school let out, and it meant that we were really in the thick of the hot, easy days.  When I got a little older, I dreaded the 4th, just a little, since it simply meant the summer was moving along.  It was the beginning of the end.
Now that I'm a "grown-up" it doesn't mean a whole besides a day off, and this one was just confusing, being in the middle of the week.  Now, the day after, my brain has no idea what day it is.  The fun is found less in where the day lies in relation to the rest of the summer, and more in just enjoying the day itself.  A day with my family, eating tons of barbeque, having the police stop by to warn about the dangers (and illegalities, in PA) of fireworks, is a welcome change.  Plus, I got to play with my camera!

justin & joey

bonfire prep

claire, instagramming

inside the fireworks

my brother, inside the fireworks 

the grand finale

we used all the sparklers

smoldering

brothers