4th of July and #12.

5 Years, 12 Weeks.


Man, it's been a crazy week.  Recovering from our road trip and catching up with both house work and work work has made this past week fly by.

You know what else has flown by?  The past 12 years.

Always a special time of the year, when you remember how beautiful she was coming down the aisle.  12 years and 3 kids later, she is even more beautiful to me.  How I ever ended up being so lucky is beyond me.

Now we drive a minivan.

And I eagerly look forward to the next 12!

Here was our week:

Visited the Grodacks when we got back from vacation.  The kids were so excited to
see each other, they put on a show for us!

Ms. Fashionista!

Found them jumping on the bed, after I had made it!  Ugh.

Brae and Kohl had a date with Mommy to Hollywood Studios!

Barely made it back in the car before the afternoon storms hit!

Meanwhile, Maddy and I had a date in Winter Garden.

  

She loves her pasta!

Walking in the rain is a great pastime!

Mommy served up some very patriotic pieces of toast on Fourth of July.

Our yearly tradition of participating in the Winter Garden kid's parade,
doing the Pledge of Allegiance.

Maddy and her ride.

Braelyn brought her beach bike!

And what says 4th of July better, than Spiderman?!

We hooked up with the Ottati's who found us there!

Always nice to participate in this community event.

Making our way down Plant St. towards historic downtown.

The afternoon was hot, so water play was welcomed.

Braelyn found a new pet snail!!

Sometimes, I wish they were like this all the time.

Maddy enjoys mangoes left over by Lolo and Lala when we were away!

We had 4th of July supper with the crew at the Grodacks.
Apparently Duncan thought that was hilarious!

Kohlden spent all evening doting on Colby...

and was thoroughly exhausted when it was time to get home.  We found him like this upstairs.

Tangie and I on top of the Contemporary Resort at the California Grill for our anniversary dinner.
We hadn't been back there since I proposed 13 years ago.

Our appetizer, a study in salmon:  salmon cakes, smokes salmon, and salmon roe.

Tangie with her potato and mushroom gnocchi.

I opted for the loin of bison, which was a bit plain…*rimshot*  get it?
Because bison roamed the Great Plains?  It was actually very tasty and tender!

And we got to see fireworks, how romantic!

Randoms:

Costco lines on the Friday before July 4.  Yikes!

Vagabonds are no laughing matter!

Guess who we bumped into at Target??
He was nice to let us take a picture while he tickled Maddy's neck.

Watched the GC service Sabbath morning on the Hope Channel.
We tried looking for Lolo and Lala, who are there somewhere...

Saw this cute young couple before the parade in Winter Garden.

What happens in the kitchen when Mommy makes something for a party!

The California Grill, site of our first date, our engagement night, and 12 year anniversary.

Have a great week!

God bless America!