With Eric, coy Kathleen and Tim.
On the opposite side of table dined Shanna and Edith.
This time, fries did not seem so terrible an option. Especially with a side of watermelon.
And why the celebration and the coy? Kathleen and Eric are engaged 7 years after the day the first met, so brunch came with a side of love. (Yeah - I said it.) Hizzah!
At Paty's with Jess.
At the Burbank Public Library. First, there are songs - cool, stories - not yet riveting, a short movie - leaves her asking for more, and just before crafts - bubbles. (Green stripes = Maddie).
The evening began with all of the kids on the floor, while the adults swirled around prepping dinner.
Then Elizabeth saw something she liked.
While not yet crawling, she does a version of an army crawl, and began her quest.
She eventually got there, and then was flipped over by her mom.
Later, it became clear that it takes a village.
To make a high-class dinner like this. Please note, the detail on the napkin.
But first, Maddie had some chill time with Dad. Jess watched them lay like this for some time.
Then it was off to Bud's for his annual pot luck, and Maddie's first bounce house (and Jess' first time in one in years - really, like a decade).
In the backyard, Bud had what most would call a pool. Something fun to lounge by with friend, Diane. Jess referred to it by it's less commonly used name, the death trap.
Maddie did not agree with Jess' assesment, and her and K-Bar enjoyed the fun "I-splash-the-water-and-you-bite-my-splashes" game.
Meanwhile, Max got in some expert cuddling with Kathleen.
And some less expert, but equally enjoyable cuddling with Dennis.
Good times, Bud, you urban cowboy, you.
At the "A Taste of Downtown Burbank." The city shut down a stretch of the main thoroughfare, and about 30 local restaurants set up tents up where you could sample their food. To the background of live music, Maddie enjoyed a spring roll, a chicken taco, pizza, and ice cream.
It was delicious, especially for Jess, who got there as soon as it started, which meant she could jump from tent to tent to tent. The working people arrived later, which meant longer lines, and crankier kids.
The Findleys powered through, and Ellie got her second wind when she was given the freedom to use her new skill of walking in and out of the open stores.
Erin and John arrived just in time to see the kid's final breakdown. As they headed to the beer and wine garden, and the rest of us headed home, we vowed to follow their example next year. Burbank will taste that much sweeter for that much longer with the purely over 21 set.
