Good to be chillin' out

After some pretty cool and rainy days, it finally looks like summer might be upon us. With school out, we've been trying to make sure that Topher is getting out and enjoying the nice weather.

It is relatively rare that we take Topher out without any pants, but I'd be lying if I said it never happened.

Unfortunately, Topher seems to have his own idea of how he wants to spend his summer.

I think that ultimately Topher will be relieved that he didn't have a top button that I could unbutton for this picture. I, however, am somewhat upset.

The big event for the week, of course, was the Fourth of July. We had wanted to make our way up to Boston for their fireworks. Unfortunately, it looked like we would have had to have waited from nine in the morning, so we nixed that idea after at quick glance Topher's way. Instead, we happily accepted an invitation to barbecue and set off fireworks with some of our friends.

This was the best of fifteen pictures we took. You have to take cuteness where you can get it.

Before too long, we got to the festivities.

The fireworks went off without a hitch, meaning everyone came back with as many eyebrows as they went in with.

Topher has been pretty quick to startle lately, so we were a little worried about him with the fireworks (especially those annoying whistling ones). We were pretty surprised to find he was completely unfazed.

You can't imagine how proud we were that he clutched that flag through the fireworks.

"So guys, can I light the next one?"

Topher got so into the patriotic spirit he started spontaneously acting out famous scenes of American history. Here he is planting the flag on the moon:

This is one wobbly step for man, one giant leap for mankind. My only regret is that I didn't have the camera ready for his Iwo Jima pose.

Topher did run into a bit of trouble when he was recruited for a street gang.

Apparently they heard that he's pretty good with a bo staff.

All and all we had a great time. I can't think of a better way for Topher to have celebrated his first Fourth of July.