July 4, 2008 - Happy Independence Day!

Our Independence Holiday actually started on July 3rd. We took the kids to the Taste Of Minnesota. It's a sort of festival - lots of carnival food, rides and live performers. We went later in the evening with my Dad and my brother, Ryan. We had tried to go to another festival last weekend where there were fireworks and discovered that Lera is about as pleased with fireworks as she is with electrical storms. As soon as she heard the first boom, she became agitated and we had to take her back to the car. We stayed for the rest of the fireworks (Caelia and Michael love them) and I sat with Lera in the car. I turned up the music really loud but she insisted in getting in her car seat and buckling herself in. I would say, "Look Lera, aren't they beautiful?" To which she answered with a gruff and commanding "GO!"

We thought we would try the fireworks at the Taste of Minnesota because we could park far enough away that she wouldn't hear the boom so much. It was really busy but it was nice to get out with my brother and Dad. The girls mostly like the rides. The only real good picture that I got was of them on an octopus ride. I really need to get a camera with a faster shutter speed - they never stop moving!

Michael and Christopher stayed out in the tent last night. It was a perfect night for camping even if it is in the backyard with an extension cord to power a fan and extra lights and a cellphone. Michael then spent the day with his Auntie Lori. He had a lot of fun. He proclaimed this to have been the BEST 4th of July ever.

We also took the kids swimming at my Dad's house since I last posted. Caelia seems to have regressed and doesn't care for the water anymore. She has always been a bit cautious but she just wouldn't cooperate this time, so we spent a lot of time on the steps splashing. Lera's first swimming experience was a great one. She is a little clingy (a good thing in my opinion) but she loves the water and is catching on to the basics of swimming really quickly. The pool is indoors (the only way to have one in Minnesota) so the chlorine levels are lower - very important for a little girl with sensitive skin - and it is always warm. Even in mid-January, the temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit, so we will be swimming a lot this year. I want to get both girls swimming as soon as possible. If you live in the land of 10,000 lakes, being able to swim is a necessity.