And the Rockets Red Glare....

We started off the day decorating Sky's bike for the neighborhood parade and cookout on Nana & Grandpa's street. Parker opted to decorate himself and used rollerblades!
I couldn't pick just a few photos, so flip through our album!
Our children enjoyed the sparklers quite a bit more than we expected. I thought Sky would be nervous, but that was not the case! We regretted having purchased only one box. In most of the pictures they appear to be practicing using wands like in Harry Potter.
Later in the evening we enjoyed a neighborhood fireworks show. Our neighbors spent quite a bit of money in South Carolina on the type of fireworks that are illegal in North Carolina, so we sat on the lawn and enjoyed the show!

A DECADE of PARKER

Who can believe Parker is 10?? Certainly not his parents! Double digits!! We had an exciting day. Twice in 10 years I've planned an outdoor party. Twice in 10 years rain has threatened to cancel. It has been dry and gorgeous for weeks, until Saturday afternoon when Parker' pool party was scheduled. After racking our brains, we developed an alternate plan of an indoor Wii (Nintendo game system) party. I think Parker liked this plan just as well, but fortunately the rain held off just long enough. Actually the lightning held off. We had the kids in the pool swimming in the rain. I'd hired a lifeguard for the occasion (I didn't feel competent to supervise a pack of 10 year old boys in the pool) -- she'd lifeguarded at Wrightsville Beach and knew just when to pull them out. So they got an hour of swimming -- then cake and presents! Parker's gifts from his friends included Lego Sets, pool toys and a game programming manual. At his family party the next day he received books, gift cards, Mario Party 8 (a Nintendo game), a USB flash key, and some "event" presents like a trip to Jungle Rapids and a movie. Amazing how the gifts change as you get older, but it was a great birthday.

Parker's 10 year old stats --
Height: 5'0"
Weight: 90 lbs
Reading Level:12.1
Interests: computers, video games, hockey, Harry Potter, Star Wars...
Currently Reading: Lord of the Rings Trilogy (just started Return of the King) & Foxtrot Anthology (comic)

China Girl 2

Sky wore her lovely chinese silk dress out to Carraba's (Italian) for Parker's Birthday Dinner.
Amazingly she managed to keep it very clean, probably because we held off on desert until she got home! Parker enjoyed having the staff sing Happy Birthday to him in Italian!