A Lot of Photos from a Carnivore

Last Saturday was the annual SO Days. My sister Amy's backyard leads to the local elementary school and park where there is always this big celebration for the 4th of July, including a carnival. She began a tradition several years ago of inviting over as many family (and often friends) that can come to have a dinner in the backyard, talk, go over to the carnival (aka "carniVORE" as my great-niece Elle called it) and watch the fireworks show. Her house is in the premium spot for all of the festivities. We are able to enjoy just as much of the crowd as we want and then can come back to the beautiful sanctuary of her backyard with its two huge, shady trees, trampoline and sandbox.

I do not have a ton of happy memories of SO Days gone by. One heavy memory surrounds the fact that I broke up with my very-serious boyfriend for the first (of several) times just before the SO Days and arrived shattered and in tears to spend the evening. I also have lots of memories of coming but feeling too sick to eat and feeling worse from the heat. Usually one or more of the kids has been too little and would get too tired to enjoy most of the festivities. Last year I was on some major mind-altering drugs and not dealing well with my hairloss and Chancho wasn't able to come.

This year was SUCH a happy time. It could not have been better! Well, okay, it could have been better if all of my family had been there (especially my two younger sisters and, no, I'm not just saying that because I know you two will probably be the only ones to read this). I was healthy and happy with my husband and three children with me and we all had a fantastic time!

Some of the things I enjoyed most:
...a "special dark" vadar

...chatting with the girls
...watching Chancho and String Cheese ride her first "big people ride" together
...watching Deedle getting brave and trying out lots of new things
...the freedom of my children's laughter
...the blessing of wonderful cousins whom my kids adore
(I realize this photo is very blurry, but the moment was priceless--every time their car came around on this little coaster their sisters would cheer for them and they would look at each other and laugh these deep, hearty laughs.)

...snuggling under the stars
...best seats for the fireworks show and kids that love each other