We spent the day with friends (what would life be if you didn’t have fantastic friends to help keep you busy during a deployment!?) and enjoyed our little town’s parade with lots of fancy sports cards (corvettes primarily), horses, a re-enactment group that shot blank rounds and sent Lara running into my lap, horses, a marching band and just over-all fun times.  There was then a free carnival with  train rides, bounce houses, music, balloons…you name it, they had it.  For having to handle two kids by myself, I was a little nervous, but, thanks to fabulous friends, we all helped each other out with the kids and the day went pretty smooth.  I then grilled some chicken burgers and hot dogs for dinner and we played outside in the back yard. I’d say it was a pretty good day….except for the fact that Lara didn’t sleep well and Charlie was a nervous wreck thanks to the fireworks going off in the neighborhood.  They are legal here, which is kind of a pain.  But, this year was definitely better than previous years with them stopping much earlier.

  Ethan’s orange balloon sword.