Happy July 4th

We had a really nice day, kicking off the celebrations with the Elgin Independence day Parade at 9AM. Mally and Mark were marching with Master Kim's Karate school and were resplendent in their martial art whites. Kim, Ross and I were very proud of them, as I assume was Owen, but Owen was wide eyed at everything and didn't seem to take special notice of his familial connection to the marchers.

Janett didn't attend. She was home making party preparations, including some barbecuing, and did really well. She'd gotten prepared for today over the last couple days, including making a big batch of pasta salad, her summer specialty. It has noodles bigger than macaroni (rigatoni?) al dente, and baby peas, and little chunks of cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise, and red wine vinegar and finely blended onions, celery, and green pepper. The secret ingredient? a little tarragon.
I love that stuff, I mean the dish, not just the tarragon.

We had to hurry a little because Mark was taking Steffy and the boys to Iowa to visit family and wanted to get there in time to attend festivities before fireworks. We were also celebrating Kim's birthday a few days in advance because she and Ross are going to Michigan on her birthday and will stay a few days. Janett made a butter pecan cake and frosted it with pecan coconut frosting. Fun. Kim and Ross stayed a while after Steffy and Mark left, but all were gone by 1:30. They had plans for Taste of Lombard(!?) and fireworks this evening.

Janett had plans to kick back and enjoy some quiet restful solitude, but we were saved by Louie and Julie, who'd had to cancel their pool day due to clouds and a little rain, and dropped by. I had leftovers from the grill, but Louie preferred chips and salsa, and birthday cake. Julie scarcely nibbled, maybe saving herself for a cookout they would attend this evening.

Jason, Dee and Joey were missed in their absence as were Noah and Lauren. But the nicest thing about these kind of parties, speaking as a parent, is the sense that the children married people whom they love and have happiness.

It's just past nine now and Janett is back at her QuickBooks tutorials (somebody has to get certified, and she's our tech guru.)

I'm a lucky guy.

PS I'm looking at Guess? as a short for Monday. Any opinions? Feed back around here is "aren't you the guy who shorted Darden during Lobster Fest?"