Happy Fourth! (a little late...)

We enjoyed spending our 4th of July with close friends (practically family) and celebrated the 82nd birthday of their dad/grandpa, Jim Cook. We had illegal fireworks (oops...) but it was too much fun lighting them and watching the amazing colors and sparkles to really worry.
We spent part of the night on Skype (web chat) with Patrick, and the whole group joined in!

Yesterday Bethany spent the day with her boyfriend celebrating his 16th birthday! They even let me take a picture (not happily :])

While Bethany was at camp, her degus (they're kind of like mini chinchillas, though I think they look more like Kangaroo Rats) got out, and when I went in there to try to find them, I almost had an asthma attack! So, as a "welcome home" project, Bethany is doing a miniature version of Clean Sweep. She's absolutely loving it! Or not...
Our friends are coming over today to help her move furniture so we can get to the dirty work. The end result will be worth it!