... and then he was seven

For the fourth year in a row, we drove up to Clarkston, Michigan to participate in the annual 4th of July parade.



Once again, our birthday boy, Henry, tossed handfuls of frozen Hershey Kisses to the crowd ... kisses in exchange for birthday wishes.



But this year, instead of riding in the back of his Uncle's (now cousin's) truck, he sat perched on a small pillow, atop the roof of his Uncle's sports car.



And his siblings, instead of riding alongside him in the back of a truck, walked before him, carrying huge signs that read, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HENRY!"



Note to self: I need to have a t-shirt made for William that reads, "I'm not Henry." 



Collectively, the lot of us tossed approximately 50 pounds of chocolate kisses to the more than 10,000 people that lined the parade route.  Next year, we'll need double that amount, because we still didn't have enough kisses and ran out nearly 1/2 way through.

  

Once Henry ran out of candy, he turned his palms to the sky and said to the crowd, "I'm sorry! I have no more chocolate, it's all gone!" That didn't stop the parade-goers from yelling, "Happy Birthday!" and launching in to song.



This has to be one of the best ways to celebrate a birthday! 



Riding down Main Street...



In a quintessential small town America parade...



Followed by a party with a Spiderman cake, a pile of presents, and dear friends and family.



The magic of the day, is almost comparable to the magic of having this little guy in our lives for the past seven years.  Almost.  



Happy birthday Henry ... we adore you!

zooming along

Last week, Henry learned how to ride his bicycle.  One minute, Charlie and I are pushing him around our cul-de-sac, and the next minute, he's doing laps around the driveway.



I'm sure he could have started riding his bike last summer, but I think he's lacked the confidence. Until I reminded him that if he could ski ... he could totally ride.



He gave me a look of apprehension until I had him repeat a few times, "I CAN DO THIS! I CAN DO THIS! I LOVE BIKE RIDING!" and then in the blink of an eye, he jumped on his bike and took off.



The wheels on his bicycle were so small, that a few days after these photos were taken, Henry hopped on his brother's 21-speed bicycle with handbrakes and rode it around the driveway.



Everything was going great, until he tried to drive his bike down our driveway and park it in the garage.  Charlie who had stepped inside to check on dinner, was alerted to Henry's predicament by our 14-year-old neighbor who informed my husband that Henry was calling for him.

Charlie ran outside and found Henry ... 200 yards down the back yard, in the creek. 

From what he was able to deduce, Henry during his descent to the garage, missed the turn and went over the lip over our driveway, like a jump. The jump caused him to rapidly accelerate down the hill, until he hit the bank of the creek and flipped over the handlebars.



Charlie helped him up, and after tending to his scrapes and bruises, watched Henry jump back on his bike and take off again. We still need to work on his dismount, the whole act of gradually slowing down and putting your feet on the ground. As opposed to say, throwing both legs over the bike as it is still moving and attempting to jump off of it.



We'll get there soon enough.

Until then .... this is my baby, Henry.

My rising first grader, with perpetually skinned knees and a confidence and personality that is growing, every day. He continues to hold the world in his hands.... 

... along with my heart. 

six

Henry turned six-years-old on the Fourth of July. Six years old.  Let me just take a moment to reflect on how this little sparkler...



Has morphed in to this gorgeous firecracker who told me yesterday, "Mom, I might not marry you when I grow up." So I had to hold him down and tickle his belly until he said, "OK, OK, I'll marry you, HONEY!!!"



For the third year in a row, we celebrated his birthday in Michigan. This time, with a very special guest.  Please focus your attention on the lovely woman on the back right row wearing the festive hat that was decorated by my Aunt Grace.



This was the third year that we also took part in the town's Fourth of July parade. Henry has had his own "float" for the past two years, so this year, Clark and Eileen had professional banners made so that we wouldn't be up until 2 AM making signs out of poster board.



We actually had the pleasure of decorating TWO vehicles for the parade because my mother, Mary, turned 80 on July 7th, so while Eileen drove the truck with Henry - Clark drove my mother in his new Porsche which was also adorned with banners and balloons.



It was so awesome to have my mother join us in what has become an annual celebration. Word has spread about how much fun we have, so as a surprise - my mother's neighbors that she sees every year during the winter in Florida - made their way to Michigan from Connecticut so they could join in on the action.  On our way to the parade...



My mother was absolutely shocked to see her dear friend, Flavia (aka: Auntie Sam)...



And Flavia's wonderful daughter, Kate (aka: Lady Liberty).



Here we are in our patriotic best ...



Here's Kate with Mrs. Michigan...



And the Blue Man.



Here's the Birthday Mobile at the lineup...



And here we are pulling out on to the parade route.





The first year that we participated in the parade, we were directly in front of the high school band. This year, there was a rock band on the float behind us and it was so fun marching to the music!



A friend of a friend (of a neighbor) joined us in the birthday lineup because their daughter was turning one on the Fourth of July and they, too, wanted in on the parade marching birthday action. The little doll in the wagon is the Birthday Girl and next year her parents are thinking of upgrading her to a pony. Or a llama. Or something that will allow her better visibility of the crowd (and them of her).

Sticking with our theme of "We Give Kisses for Birthday Wishes!" ....

Henry did a great job throwing out handfuls of frozen Hershey Kisses...

To the thousands of people who lined the nearly 2-mile route.



Including a police officer with a fantastic reflex to catch airborne kisses.



We meandered down Main Street...



With our flags waving ...



And faces smiling.



We went past the Grand Stand and listened to the MC identify my mother celebrating her 80th birthday (visiting all the way from South Carolina), Henry celebrating his 6th birthday (all the way from Virginia), and the little girl in the wagon celebrating her 1st birthday (all the way from the next town over).  "So you see," he told the crowd, "people from all over America must realize this is the BEST PARADE in the country!" and then he told my mother that she was more beautiful than the car before asking, "By the way Mary, is that car your birthday gift?" 



My mother had so much fun that two days later, her cheeks still hurt from all the laughing.



Once the parade was finished, there were presents ...



Cake ...



And fireworks.



Talk about ending the perfect day with a bang!