Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July to everyone!!  We were lucky enough to slip out of the heat here in the valley (it topped 118 on the 4th!!), and head out to Temecula for the weekend.  First order of business, see a very dear friend get married in Pasadena on the 2nd.  Congratulations to Kevin and Sandra!!!  If you had told me when I first met Kevin that I would love him so much and end up at his wedding I would have told you you were crazy, the level of teasing I endured from him was barely tolerable, but underneath that sarcasm was and is a very caring and loyal friend.   I'll never forget Big Sky Indoor Championships in Pocotello Idahoe, I totally choked in the 800M, something I've never in my life done before and I was in perfect shape no reason.  I was walking back to my stuff afterwards, dazed and confused and upset and I saw Kevin and I just looked at him and I was about to crumble and he grabbed my by the shoulders and said, "Ze, it's okay.", all of a sudden I didn't feel like a failure and I'll always be grateful to him for saying that.  It seems so simple, but if you're a runner you might understand.  I love you Kevin and Sandra!

Okay, back to the rest of the holiday:-) Sunday we headed to Del Mar for the County Fair. The weather was perfect a little overcast with a gentle breeze. . . . a huge relief from Phoenix! Owen had a blast riding the big slide with Daddy, and a few other rides before sleeping most of the rest of the fair away. I haven't been in a long time and it was fun. On Monday we headed into Old Town Temecula for the annual parade which was a blast, but really really hot. Owen watched the police cars and then sat in the shade and sprayed water on himself for the rest of it. I enjoyed seeing all the pageant queens and princesses and some of the local Temecula groups as well as some veterans from past wars including WWII. Mom, you will appreciate this, whenever I saw any horses it brought me back to all the parades we used to walk in, especially the infamous Christmas parade with Apple Blossom! In the afternoon we headed over to Kevin and Christine's house for a BBQ and some family fun. I love going to Christine's house I always get good decorating ideas! Owen loves to play with Emmas toys and the two of them even got in Emma's toddler pool together . . . sort of. Owen was not so sure about sharing a pool (have to work on that:-), but once he realized he didn't have to be scared of Emma he did enjoy the water! The babies liked looking at the sparklers and the boys loved lighting them! Christine's sister Val made a patriotic berry trifle (which I had been DREAMING of since decorations went out at JoAnns back in May:-), yum!