CELEBRATE

Gracie and I start the weekend with a matinée
showing of "Kung Fu Panda", where she
practices her moves. Afterwards she poses
outside the theater with the flower buckets
that she thinks are just beautiful.

When we get home Charlie and Mom are back
from the Doctor's office. He has been quite sick
with Coxsackie virus and is still not himself. He
is still droopy and clingy

Gracie now knows how to do some activities on the
computer. She is getting quite good at it. There
are things to do on Disney, Noggin and Nickolodean.
Charlie's computer skills consist of breaking the
printer and tearing out the papers.

We are getting ready to go to the Fourth of July parade in
Lansing and Gracie is trying on outfits. At first she wants to
wear this glamorous new skirt and top.

Then the mail comes and there is a new Dorothy dress that Grammy in Seattle has sewn for
her. It is to go with the new sparkly tennis shoes that she got for her birthday. Gracie puts
her Puppy Pup in a basket so he can be like Toto and she is good to go!

We start our no-driving all-things-Lansing weekend with the parade downtown. It is a
typical small town parade with kids, dogs, pickup trucks and marching politicians. The
Rockford parade goes them one better because WE have garbage trucks and ambulances!!

Gracie and her best friend Maddie have a grand time waving their
flags and picking up the candy that the parade marchers throw into
the spectators. Charlie just enjoys Mom and Dad and his noonie.

The happy parade-goers -- Charlie, Momma Genna,
Daddy Chad and Gracie, Nana Judi, Daddy Robert
and Maddie. Momma Jen is home on bed rest
awaiting the birth of the TWIN BOYS!

After the parade we pile into a table at a lovely sidewalk café for lunch. We have sandwiches, and Charlie chews on an
EMPTY cold bottle neck, which (though it LOOKS bad) feels GOOD on his toothy gums.

"Yuk! Lemon is TERRIBLE! What a dirty trick, Mom!"

Gracie checks out a
planter of flowers
on the street,
looking for what
bees eat. She
finds the pollen in
the center of the
flower and on her
fingers!

Everyone goes for a refreshing dip in the pool at the M.A.C. Gracie makes her very first dive off the side of the
pool. Charlie paddles all over in his little swim seat, and likes hanging from a noodle.

Now it is time for the big party!! Charlie chows down on his
favorite food -- WATERMELON!! The girls put the candles on
the cake that Gracie decorated with sprinkles, then we all sing
"Happy Birthday, Charlie!" The Birthday Boy helps himself to
the frosting on the cake. It is a good little party. Afterwards,
he and Nana stay home and Gracie, Maddie and the Mamas and
Papas go to the 4th of July Fireworks (Charlie's birthdays will
ALWAYS end with the bang of fireworks!!

The next morning (Saturday) Gracie and I make a "Breakfast Cake". It is NOT a coffee cake, because Gracie
doesn't "yike" coffee! But it IS delicious and she enjoys it.

After lunch we all head out to the ballpark to
enjoy the beautiful weather at the Lugnuts
game. I meet the Big Lug, then stand behind
home plate, look WAY out in right field to find
where we are sitting.

We do not stay for the next round of fireworks that are held at the ball park after the game, but when we get home
Daddy Chad sets up a fireworks just for Gracie, so she can watch in her jammies from the front porch. It is the
perfect ending to another GREAT day in our "All Lansing Fourth of July"!

Charlie is feeling better, but is still clinging for dear life
to Mama. And Floyd is just happy to have his Toby.