report on the 4th, pictures, and a question

Thank you all for sharing your neuroses with me! Isn't it interesting that a lot of moms seem to worry about making the holidays "just right", while many husbands and kids probably couldn't care less?

It seems that it was a good strategy for me to vent to the internet, get a few things off my chest, and then go on to enjoy the day. The rain stopped by mid-afternoon, and we actually went out and socialized. There was a neighborhood party a couple blocks up the street, featuring a jumping thing (I never know what to call those things- it's not really a ride...) and a 3-person slip-n-slide!

Henry ate a lot of fruit and some rice krispie treats (my contribution to the party), then came over to join his brother in the jumper. He got inside and started stiffly boucing around, stopping to check in with me every 30 seconds or so. At one point an older girl was leaning against the side of the jumper near him. He leaned toward her and said "hiiiiiiii" in that high-pitched way you use when you're trying to get someone's attention. I was so excited that he was trying to engage someone! Then he turned to me and said "you want me to tell you what she is?" I translated this as meaning he wanted to know her name. So I said "you could tell her your name, and ask her what her name is". He kind of looked at her, looked back at me, and went back to jumping. Guess that all seemed like too much work.

Then we moved over to the slip-n-slide. I was also very happy with Henry's interaction there. After I dragged him by the hand and pretty much knocked him to the ground to make him slide, he preferred to stand off to the side, cheering for the other kids and getting splashed by them. That went well for quite a while. But then he started getting braver, and wanting to spend more time on the slip-n-slide, just standing on top of the spraying water. I encouraged the other kids to just go around him for awhile. But it really wasn't fair or safe to leave him standing in the middle. Eventually we ended up having to leave the party, because it was time for Tommy's nap and I saw no end to the slip-n-slide battle. But we stayed for over an hour, and I viewed it as a success.

We went to the fireworks that evening, which was enough to make me re-think "not liking the 4th of July." The boys were SO SO SO excited. As we drove there, they were searching the skies for fireworks. Tommy kept saying "I see sompting!" We found a good spot, put down a tarp and a blanket, and watched. Henry covered his ears at first, but we were far enough away that the booms weren't too loud. Tommy declared that some "looked like a butterfly" and Henry exclaimed that one "looked like a tree." We all ooohed and aaahed, and Henry asked "which one is your favorite, mommy?"

So maybe this holiday will get better for me as the years go on. Kate had the digital camera with her that night (she's got some nerve, huh?) so I had to take old-fashioned pictures. But here are a few from the weekend at my mom and dad's house (thanks mom!) This first one makes me laugh- like we are posing so proudly in front of our minivan:




And now my question: please give me some good vacation book suggestions. I think the last book I read was Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last summer! So I'm open to anything...