It actually doesn't sound like a lot of time, especially both of our parents celebrating their fortieth this year and the next. When we look back, though, and look at not the years but the experiences, that's when it feels like it starts to add up. It's strange to realize that we've had the blog for five of those years, so a lot of those experiences have been journaled here over time. In 2005 there was our first furniture purchase, a trip to D.C., separations, and togetherness. And who can forget Raspberry? In 2006 it was all about Calvin, of course, or about being new parents, with an occasional reference to pets, zoo trips, or bald heads. In 2007 he got there was great sadness, many joys, and even some travel. 2008 found us in a new house in a new town, traveling to much more distant lands than before, and trying our hands at new things that happen to be still in progress (I can't believe how small our veggie garden was then!). 2009 was our first ER visit (can't forget that), more travel and trying new things (and hey, I knew the garden got bigger). It's amazing how much has changed. Now let's come back from that short jog down memory lane.

We have wonderful families who gathered last night to celebrate our seven years together with great conversation and fabulous food—thank you to everyone for the food (because everyone except us made something), the fun, the love, the gifts, the all around great time.

And we tried to get one of just the two of us, but some strange little tyke kept running up to join in the fun, not to be left out.

We had long planned to spend the afternoon with our friends John and Ashley at their nearby splash zone, but the weather was so questionable all day that we opted to spend it splashing around at their house instead. Lo and behold, did you know that the Slip n' Slide isn't just for kids anymore? Or at least it isn't after a couple of mint juleps.

This one is Jon, in case you couldn't tell.

The only problem is that there wasn't enough slide for adult momentum, as shown here by John. Easily remedied with a second slide, of course. We'll try that next time.

At nearly ninety degrees, sunny, and brutally humid we saw no reason to shirk our annual opening day duty to the Art Fair. Contrary to general local feelings we look forward to this week all the rest of the year, to our chance to catch up with extended family members who always gather on this day to peruse the art and share in good meals. According to the (supposed) Ann Arbor newspaper, artist attendance is up this year, and, in spite of the heat, the crowds were, well, crowded.

Bright blue skies and wispy clouds were beautiful, but hot.

Interactive art with a somewhat cooling side effect.

Carefully placed, clearly marked, and easily accessed city water, both with fountains and a tap for refilling your own bottle, makes disposable bottles of water unnecessary and is an important step towards the Fair's ultimate zero waste goal.

Rather large and elaborate pinwheels or weather vanes that we always enjoy while waiting to be seated for lunch.

Following directions is not somebody's strong point.

Playing at lunch with his new hopper and box cars.

Mr. B's traveling piano.

I guess there were fewer pictures this year, but the rest of them are in the July 2010 folder.

Look at me journaling in real time. Unbelievable! With the Art Fairs looming just around the proverbial corner the Townie Party was here again and so, being the lifelong townies that we are, we attended. Six years ago we attended the very first Townie Party which consisted, we think we remember correctly, of a few craft booths for the kids, some live music, and maybe an ice cream vendor, all comfortably housed on the part of Ingalls Mall between the alumni building, the MLB, the fountain, and Washington. I don't remember any streets being closed.

We went again right after Calvin was born when it was in its third year and I remember it being only modestly bigger and we hadn't been back since, so you can imagine our surprise upon turning onto North University and finding the street closed and lined with tents while the entirety of Ingalls Mall between North U and Washington was swarming with people, vendors, and art. In its sixth year the Townie Party has really come into its own.

We walked by all the food vendors at first (a very difficult thing to do with Tios staring us right in the eye) and strolled through the Mall meeting with local businesses, politicians, and art councils along the way; the Boy Choir of Ann Arbor and Wild Swan were there, to name two of our favorites, and we also ran into some of our favorite musicians and friends from our more involved (read: pre-baby) years. We also spent some time chatting with the Dexter Chamber of Commerce (after which they dubbed us "that Dexter Family" and referred to us as such whenever we passed them again, a nice compliment to the older couple on my morning run route who has dubbed me "the Dexter girl" after seeing me run into town so often). The space which used to be the whole of the fair was dedicated to the display and sale of school-aged kids' artwork, row after row of booths that ranged from the over-indulgent to the surprisingly talented, all of which was really overpriced (it wouldn't be an Art Fair if it wasn't, would it now).

Calvin's favorite part, as I'm sure you can tell from the pictures, was the craft booth, which has been an integral part of the Party since its inception six years ago. He also collected a number of stickers from the row of obliging businesses and institutions along our way back to the Tios tent for dinner, which we ate while sitting on the steps of Hill Auditorium. In some ways it was like returning home (to campus, that is), and there was something very special about dinner at the foot of the giant from our past. Other than the music, which was painfully too loud and thankfully closer to the beer garden than to Hill, the Townie Party receives an A+ from us.