Madeline's First...

Fourth of July!  

We had a jam-packed weekend of fun, frolicking, and frivolity.  (What is that from?  I know I did not make it up.)   

On Saturday, we introduced Madeline to the wide, wonderful world of public transportation.

 We walked along Mass Ave. in Cambridge.  We went into just about every store along the way to browse, and I drank 1/8 of the world's largest Bloody Mary.

On Sunday evening, we showed America just how much we love her by wearing these outfits...

My hometown has a big Fourth of July celebration on the town common every year.  There's music, food, games and lots and lots of people.  Eric, being king of the band geeks, plays in the band every year, and I go and watch him.  I was very excited to take Madeline this year.  She made it till 8 pm and then decided she'd had enough, thank you very much, Mumma.

 The following morning, we showed America some more love by attending the Fourth of July parade.  People set up lawn chairs along the parade route a full week before the actual parade begins.  That's how seriously parades are taken in these parts.  My hometown loves America.  So does Madeline...obviously.

Of course, the parade was hot and long, (That's what she said!) so Madeline quickly went from this...

 To this...

 To this...

 She spent the first five minutes of the parade waving at all the people and looking very confused as to why everyone was applauding when she hadn't done any tricks. (Obviously all applause is meant for Madeline.)  After that, she slept through the entire thing.

I had been worried that all the guns going off would freak her out.  (It was part of the parade; there wasn't a gang turf war going on or anything like that.)  Every child within a five mile radius seemed absolutely traumatized by the guns.  Not Madeline.  She didn't bat an eyelash.  At one point, she looked at me as if to say, "Mumma, those people are being really loud and annoying, and I'm trying to sleep.  Tell them to be quiet please," and then she went right back to sleep.  Maybe she'll be more freaked out as she gets older...or maybe it's a product of being raised in the ghetto.  I'm not sure.

Either way, she missed Dada going by.  One does not get to be King of the Band Geeks without participating in a few parades, does one?

Can you pick out which one is Eric?

Can you pick out which one is the fake Rod Stewart?

Luckily, she woke up in time to see him after the parade.

We wrapped it all up with a BBQ at Emily's house, where we kicked back in the shade and watched Madeline watch all the doggies.

Happy birthday, America.  You don't look a day over 234.  Thank God for Botox.