We hope everyone had a safe and great holiday. This is absolutely, hands-down, my favorite of the year. In Illinois we enjoyed a big bike ride with loads of friends to the Purple Store out in the country (tradition continues), and then evening fireworks with even more friends in our quaint town. PHX, well it's taken some time as it is humid this time of year and 110 degrees, however, we've adapted and either enjoy going to the mountains or staying put and occupying our day with swimming and then evening fireworks. This years we popped for tickets to the musical Wicked that happened to be in town. We took the girls and had a blast. It was a great day. We have a lot to be thankful for and we feel blessed to be Americans and part of this great nation!