We filled the kiddie pool on Friday morning, put the slide, some rockets, and a couple of balls into the pool, and the kids knew what to do from there. Kenzie in particular enjoys getting in the pool as often as we'll allow, and managed to talk us into letting her splash around 5 or 6 times in three days.
Home-made ice cream suddenly seemed very American to me, so I ran down to Target and came back with an ice cream maker and demands for my family that they make me some cookies and cream ice cream. Thankfully they are always happy to indulge my whims.
Jackson requested a home fireworks show, and there is a huge fireworks stand just down the road from our house, so I took him down Friday morning and picked up a big ole mess of fireworks. I think I've decided I want to work in marketing for a fireworks company some day, after seeing Jackson's excitement and wonder as I read the names and descriptions of the various fireworks. Old Glory, Spinning Panda, Purple Rain, Monster Truck, Morning Glory, and parachutes were fan favorites.
Below, Jackson holds a sparkler for the first time (Morning Glory). Not pictured: Steph, wearing a very forced, very fake smile as Jackson does his own version of a Hawaiian fire dance.
Jackson had a picture perfect 5th birthday, which was timed nicely, one day after Kenzie declared that she was going to start being nice to Jackson when he turned five.
He also got $50 from his great grandparents, which he is going to use to open his own savings account. We were quite pleased with his choice after a long discussion with us about saving money for important things down the road... that is until I overheard a part of his phone conversation with his great grandparents, in which he told them "um, I'm not sure yet, but I'm definitely not going to college!" I guess we still have some work to do :)