Love Sparkles and Shines

It's the day after the Fourth of July and we are just chilling today. The kids are watching movies. I am proud that they got dressed and brushed their teeth today. That is all I ask of them. Oh and not to kill each other over a square inch of couch space they may happen to touch at the same time. It is the little things.

We packed it in this weekend, and thus the need for a recovery day.

We went to church and volunteered in the Walkers room on Saturday. Justin and I enjoy the time meeting new babies, and comforting their little hearts while their moms and dads get a quiet moment to listen and reflect on the Lord's teachings. Heaven knows how much WE have appreciated those welcoming arms for our own babies the last three years. It was time to give back.

And it is always cute and funny to watch the ladies (young to old, single to married) swoon over how amazing Justin truly is with those babies. It is seriously the first thing I feel in love with about him. A baby comes in the room, in tears, reaching for the door, their mamas and in the arms of a welcoming volunteer, shh'ing and bouncing them. Justin makes eye contact and holds out his arms saying, "Come on boo-boo" and they leap into his arms, quiet down, and soon are playing happily. It has happened three times, different babies and on different days. I smile and my hearts heats up with love for that man. And he is all mine, ladies!

Sunday, we prepped for the annual 4th Block Party we hold each year at our house (this was our 3rd year since we took over). After the prepping we decided to take a break and join some friends at the local pool. It was great! The kids were swimming, laughing splashing. It was all going so well... until Justin did a small dive off the diving board.

See, Justin plays soccer. Old Man Soccer, we like to call it. He loves it though. Unfortunately he had torn a calf muscle that previous Wednesday and had been healing fairly well. Until that dive re injured his leg.  Within hours his calf was swollen and blood pooled in a bruise-like spot in his ankle. This has happened before, but not to the point he was limping. By nightfall he could barely walk.

Come Monday Morning he could limp around, but was pretty much sequestered to a chair, handing out prizes to the kids.

We made the best of the day, despite the injury, and it turned out a glorious 4th for the family.

We started with the Bike Parade. A hit for all the neighbor kids.

My Gavin scooter ed along as happy as can be to be part of such a big production as the Bike Parade.

There were games and fun had by all.

And when evening approached, daddy stoically stayed home to rest his leg, while the boys and I trekked the 26 minute walk over to our City park to watch the fireworks with good friends. We even lit a few sparkles.

And enjoyed the sparkle and shine of the light display.

We got home late, Gavin feel asleep in the stroller. We were gritty with tired from our long day playing. But it was worth the day to celebrate our Nation's birthday with friends.

Now if daddy can recover all will be right with the world again.