Fantastic Fourth

{huck finn?}

We had a great time visiting my parents on Cape Cod over Fourth of July. Thankfully, the traffic was light and both girls slept all the way there. That was such a gift, given Phoebe's recent car behavior (the behavior did show its ugly head on the trip back home, but let's not spoil a good post with that!). The weather kept threatening rain but in the end it was really nice out and we got in visits to the pool on both Thursday and Friday. Lucy loved it in there...she is a real fish, just like her mama (and her nonni and her greatnana, etc.). I bought her a flotation suit and with it on she was able to hold her head above the water and actually "swim." I know there are mixed opinions about things like this, like that they give kids a false sense of security, etc. -- but for now, I think it's a good way to get her comfortable in the water and used to the concept of kicking her feet and paddling her arms. I took the suit off of her plenty of times to have her test her swimming skills. She's not there yet, but she is willing to try and she doesn't get freaked out if she dunks under...all good things, I think!

{playing on the lawn}

{jumping}

{swimming}

On the 4th, we played it fairly low-key during the day, starting with getting the girls dressed up in their finest red-white-and-blue:

{yes, she is made out of pudding}

And then a visit to Greatnana and Greatpoppa, who are always thrilled to see their girls...and the girls are always thrilled to see them!

We grilled up some food for dinner at my parents' house (enjoying the lovely view of the pond), then the four of us headed to Chatham to see the band concert on the town green. I always loved these concerts but haven't been able to go to one in years (and I do mean years!) because they are on Friday nights in the summer and thus not really possible to get to in time. But this year, the 4th of July fell on a Friday so the band concert proceeded as normal and we were able to go. It was so much fun, amazing really, to be able to take my own child down to the bandstand for the kids' song portion of the concert -- I mean, really, the last time I went to a band concert in Chatham I was just a kid myself (13, I think). Lucy was a bit sleepy but I think she enjoyed it, especially the two glow sticks that Jeff bought her to wear around her neck. Phoebe tagged along and was a great little baby, staying up and alert far past her bedtime!

{at the band concert...brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes}

Almost forgot to mention the best part of the weekend...my parents watched the girls on Thursday night while Jeff and I went to a much needed dinner out at Gracie's Table. A blood orange martini has never tasted so good. Thanks, mom and dad! And thanks to my girls for being little angels (or so we're told) while we were out :)