Monday, August 8, 2011

Fireworks & Best Friends

The summer is flying by in a flash, like usual. And I'm behind my posts, like usual.

We had a great Independence Day weekend with my mom & stepdad visiting. It was a hot weekend, so we spent much of it indoors. Here are a few pictures though from our venture out to a new location this year for fireworks.

Mom & I playing our annual fireworks game of lawn checkers

Enjoying the sunset over a county fairgrounds a bit south of us


Tim playing on his phone while we wait... and sticking his tongue out at me


Mom & Jerry playing a round of Super Tic-Tac-Toe


Our friendly neighbors, they are part of why we decided to stay by our car, they were fun


 Tim & I while we waited


Yay for fireworks and celebrating our country's freedoms!!




It's always really nice to have mom & Jerry here over the July 4th weekend. Mom & I got a lot of organizing done, Tim & Jerry watched a Cubs game, relaxed, talked, and Jerry read 1 or 2 books. {He's an avid reader and loves our library. I get a free copy of each book we publish, and after 10 years there we are pretty chock full of books--at least the ones I haven't given away yet....}

We grilled out, went out to eat, enjoyed some good movies, and had a good time together. The only big thing that was missing was our bike ride, it was just way too hot for me. Hopefully we can go when they're back here in September, when the weather should be much nicer!

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The following weekend, my childhood best friend Tracie came up for some good ol' girlie time. It was unbelievably wonderful and just what we both needed!! I wish she could come up more than just once a year, but I'll take what I can get! :)

We did some shopping




Tim made us a fabulous Saturday morning breakfast



Tracie enjoyed chilling on Sat morning without cartoons or kids running around


Ready for our Sat afternoon shopping spree & girl time




Lunch at Panda!! 
{Our favorite place to eat together when she's here; one of my favorite places ever! yummy fast Chinese food, mmmmm!}


She took me around World Market for the first time - a new favorite store, loved it!!!



Went to church Saturday night and took some hilarious & fun pictures in the church parking lot after the ice cream social







After all that I took her to my new favorite place, Anna Shea's Chocolates & Lounge - amaaaaazing!! Yummy handmade/hand-painted chocolates, super fab chocolate drinks & other specialty drinks & wines. I've only so far tried their Red Velvet Hot Chocolate drink, but my dad loved the wine he tried, and Tracie loved the salted caramel Hot Chocolate she tried. Seriously good stuff, great place to relax & have girl time to catch up & chit chat. 






We're so glad we had this time together. I think back on it and it's definitely one of my favorite things so far from summer 2011. I look forward to next year's hangout Trac!!!

2 comments:

The TV Mama said...

Your photos crack me up! I'm so glad you had such a great time with your friend! (And would you believe I have never eaten at Panda Express...even though there's one right down the road from my house?!?)

Mary @ Giving Up On Perfect said...

Oops! That was me, in case you didn't know it. :)