Happy 4th of July!

On your marks...

Get Set...

Well...It's not about who wins, it's about who has the most fun :-) These guys both thought each other's bikes were pretty cool

Sam, felt like he was missing out on all the fun...Rachel was not amused :-)

We (I) was pretty excited about finding a little 4th of July Celebration that included a bike parade. Growing up in Cedar City, UT we would decorate our bikes every year and ride them down main street in the parade. I have always been bummed that the big city of Phoenix cannot compete when it comes to holiday celebrations. I never understood why they don't do more little fairs for the 4th of July...now I know better. It is not because the city is so much bigger, and they just aren't in to that sort of thing, it is because it is just too hot, and no one wants to be outside until the sun goes down. We got to the fair around 5:15 for the parade, and tried staying at the fair until the fireworks, but around 6:30 I realized that there was no way I could make it until 9:30-so we came home, and drove back later and watched fireworks from a parking lot. Maybe it was the heat, and maybe it was the difference in game choices (big inflatable bounce houses just aren't the same as dunk tanks and going fishing with a wooden stick over a sheet for a 50 cent prize), but it didn't quite live up to all my expectations--but they had Cotton Candy--and isn't that all that really matters in the end? :-)

I am glad that there is something in Boston to keep is wanting to come back--maybe we will plan on a reunion trip back to Boston every 4th of july, (or maybe every other...or at least every once in a while:-) Who else is in? I hope everyone had a great 4th of July.

My Wonderful Weekend in LA

My sister and I took off on friday morning for Los Angeles to visit my best friend from high school-who i haven't seen in about 2 years. It turns out they live closer to the city than I thought so we were right in the middle of the cool part of LA (in my opinion) :-) So we started out by taking a stroll down Rodeo Drive-if that isn't the start to the perfect girls weekend I don't know what is.

This was my first time in Beverly Hills-and it was very nice. I would say it has the perfect amount of "big city" ambiance. Just enough to feel like you are in a happenin' place, but not enough that you feel clausterphobic. And it was super clean, even the sidewalks were spotless.


Day 2 Started out on Santa Monica beach--note the cool ferris wheel in the background. Our few hours here consisted mostly of laying peacefully on the beach-since we left our kids home and all. We also played in the sand with my friend's little boy-as this was the first time I have met him-since he wasn't my own, I found anything he did to be so cute, and he appeared to be a well-behaved little boy (i am sure his mom may say otherwise) :-)





Then after the babysitter got home (her husband) we took off for a night of shopping. We started out by going to an ice cream sandwhich place-SO GOOD! You pick the type of cookies that you want, and then get to pick a flavor of ice cream to have inside-they were delicious! and the best part was they were only $1.25. Then we went shopping at the 3rd Street Pier. Kind of a mix between downtown crossing, and quincy market, it was a street lined with stores- (some expernsive and some more in our budget) and then the middle street was filled with shoppers and street performers. It was lined with Christmas lights and the shops stayed open until 11pm. We've still got it! ;-) I will post the rest of the pictures as soon as my sister e-mails them to me.