Luke Hearts Independence (Day)

Luke has been so increasingly independent lately, that I think he felt a special affinity for Independence Day this year.  He always wants to do everything all by himself, whether it is drinking out of a big boy cup or walking down the street trying to tug his hand out of yours the entire time.

In any case, we celebrated Independence Day with two fun celebrations.  On July 3rd we scrambled home from work to get up to Milwaukee for the annual fireworks on the lakefront.  All of us Mackus's were there for at least one more year of holding up our TRADITION!!  Luke seemed scared by the fireworks at first and almost choked me he was hanging on to my neck so tight, but after a while when he realized it wasn't going to stop anytime soon he loosened his grip and actually snuck a few peeks at the pretty colors.  It was a late night, though, we didn't get home and in bed until 12:30am!

Luke and PJ on PJ's NEW birthday wagon

Family pic:)

Carpenter Clan 

Grandma and Grandpa

Our picnic area.  It was one HOT night!

Awesome hour long fireworks display.

Then on the 4th of July we hosted our friends Doug and Jade for a holiday barbeque.  Actually, even though we had the get together at our house, they brought the full smorgasbord of amazing food!  Thanks so much, guys.  We hadn't seen them in a long time, and hadn't even met their new baby daughter Maeve yet.  She is already 3 months old and SUCH a cutie.  Big sis Stella is adorable and Luke just followed her around.  After a relaxing afternoon by the pool we headed to the park near our house to catch the tail end of the Kenny Loggins concert and the Lake Forest fireworks.  The fireworks were beautiful, too, but about half way through the show Luke crawled into his stroller on his own and indicated that he was ready to go home.  Two nights in a row of festivities and late bedtimes tuckered him out!

Doug and Maeve

Jade and her Hollywood starlet

Relaxing on the raft

Stella (with Luke looking on adoringly)