To grow up and live happy in the land of the free

Jack started us off this afternoon with flags for the annual flags-in-Daddy's-chair pix

And they hammed it up a lot

It's hard to believe those long legs and big ole feet started out like this in 2004

Toby Keith's Coutesy Of The Red, White And Blue

All of the good gifts given today

Maybe it's the sense of Christmas tradition that can make total strangers into instant friends, but we met the nicest lady the other day while running some errands. She invited us to look at her Americana tree after seeing the boys' Santa hats. They fell in love with a few of her ornaments, and I couldn't believe it when she insisted that the boys take them home! People are just so generous, and we're looking for a way to thank her. Here the boys are posing with their favorite new American ornaments (you can see Harry's bell directly above his head, and Jack's flag heart near the top of the tree)

And that same afternoon we received our annual White House ornament from my dear friend, Carol - and look what it is full of....American flags and all sorts of nostalgia. We have ten of these now, and will be getting a separate tree for them at some point - they are truly gorgeous and so unique each year. Thanx, as always, Carol!

John Denver's Christmas For Cowboys (does anyone know why Destiny's Child sang this song?)

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Jack found a new use for GORP today - while waiting for lunch, he 'planted' the sunflower seeds under soil (raisin) and used a watering can (almond) to give it "Clean, fresh water"

It's so cool when they learn things at school and bring them home. They've both been all about the "clean (or cool, depending on the moment) fresh water" since VBS, where they talked a lot about nature and contributed to a water project. We've been planting a lot lately, and they are really enjoying taking care of our flowers and plants. Mother Nature has been kind and given us a lot of rain recently.

This is just a shot of Harry winking at me today at lunch - thought it might make you smile :-)

Some recent funnies:

6/30 Jack "Do you spell Jake with a G?" They have been into spelling again lately, and now think it's HI-larious to twist the letters. Harry promptly followed with "Do you spell Sarah with a C?" We all miss our buddies!

7/4 Harry: "Mommy, when can we go to America's birthday party?" "I SURE do!" and "It SURE is!" (he alternately pronounces it shyer or shore, depending on his mood - poor boy, caught between a yankee and a southerner!) and two recent favorites: "But, Mommmmmm" and "NO!" ....grrrrr....

Singing "Happy Birthday, America!" on Friday