Summer, Oklahoma style

Yes, it has been too long since I posted anything here! Not surprising that one of my last posts was about finding a job. I am enjoying the job, though like most of the ones I've had, there are parts that I love, and parts that drive me nuts. Hopefully, over time, I'll be able to be a part of changing some of the things that are driving me nuts! And I'll just have to fight Pete and Nick for some computer time to whip up a post more often. Anyway...

ON FIREWORKS:
We had a great Fourth of July weekend. The biggest difference is that fireworks are legal in Oklahoma, and boy do they sell them everywhere! It's a very peculiar business -- seems like just about anyone can set up a trailer somewhere and sell fireworks. You can't find them in regular stores. In Sapulpa there is a fireworks stand that is set up in a church parking lot, and another one that claims to be fundraising for the high school. There's even one on the backroads set up in someone's yard like a lemonade stand!

We decided to stick close to home this year to see the local fireworks show in Sapulpa, and it was pretty impressive. Great location: they shot them off from the golf course, and the viewing area was a large field next to the Wal-Mart store. No trees or anything else to block your view! Next year we might venture out a little further and see one of the shows put on over the river, though Pete had a good question: Do fireworks reflect off of brown water??

As for putting on our own "show", we went to an actual fixed fireworks store and bought $10 worth of assorted sparkling, spinning, and popping things. We were able to set them off in our parking lot and had a great time. I have a feeling that next year, we'll be getting more than $10 worth...

ON THE HEAT:
Yes, it gets very hot here during the summer, duh. It has been in the 90s all weekend. Today is about the third time we've been to the pool in our apartment complex, and I think it's going to become a weekly habit now. Might as well enjoy it while we can! Amelia has a great time paddling around with one of those inflatable rings, and Nick has discovered the two favorite pool activities of 6-to-10-year-old boys: 1) cannonballs, and 2) squirting water out the space where you just lost a tooth.

Hooray for fire and water!