Happy Birthday America!

This has definitely been one of the most packed, but most fun weekends we've had as a family in a while. On Wednesday evening, we headed down the street at 5:10 p.m. to stake our spot for the parade. Items aren't allowed to be placed into the curb to "reserve" your spot until 7 p.m., and at nearly 2 hours before that time we were not the first to arrive to claim our ground. Mike arrived from work around 5:45 to relieve us. At around 6 p.m. the rain started...and a daddy that loves his little girl very much stood in a bright red poncho to cover his full suit for the next hour so that he wouldn't lose the 6 sidewalk squares we had claimed. As Mike started to pound the stakes into the ground and wrap caution tape to mark our spot, a photojournalist from the local paper arrived and started interviewing Mike and taking pictures. http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/photographerphotos/gallery.aspx?catid=1344

Then, Mike had off on Thursday so that we could prepare for the 80 people that would arrive later that afternoon for dinner, the Menomonee Falls parade and fireworks. Brooke's preschool had a "parade" at that morning around the parking lot.

Everyone started arriving for the party around 4:30 and it seemed that all had a good time. I did get some good footage of Brooke singing her rendition of Happy Birthday America (she didn't know I was taping - sorry about the wind and background noise.)

Friday morning we had signed up to do a 5K walk as part of a fundraiser for the Menomonee Falls Booster club. As Mike parked the car at the finish line and rode his bike back, he learned the importance of a bike helmet when he hit a patch of gravel. Luckily he walked away with only some bruising and a few scrapes. We successfully completed the walk and then headed out to enjoy some time on Okauchee lake. Brooke loved fishing and feeding the ducks.

Saturday the POD was delivered and Mike spent his day loading it with all of the items from our garage - which is being taken down on Tuesday. It all fit - thank goodness!

Sunday was Grandpa Kippert's Birthday and Mike was able to spend some time with him this afternoon. Our friends the Seiler's came over this evening for some leftovers from our party - I just love friends that accept an invitation for leftovers! The kids had a ball in the pools and it was interesting to watch all four of them in the tub at the end of the night.