Lately I haven't been able to keep stride with the ferocious pace of the passing days. The lag between when I'm snapping the pictures and when I'm publishing the posts is growing. Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in there being no such thing as too much fun, and the cookouts and parties keep coming one after another. I'm just a little bit overwhelmed with the pace of life this summer.

At any rate, two handsome gents provided good reason for celebration as Jadon celebrated his fifth birthday and Landry is about to land on his third. And so the clan gathered together at the park again to play in the sun, and eat good food, to talk, and laugh, and enjoy each others company.

We feasted on all the requisite summer cookout goodies like potato salad, and pasta salad, dogs and burgers, and of course wedge after wedge of sweet ruby watermelon.

We grilled with such charisma that the Dalton Fire Co. stopped by to check out our hot dog smoke as it spiraled toward the clear blue sky.

Ok, I lied. Some generous firemen from the Dalton Fire Co. stopped by with the fire engine so that the kids could climb aboard and put their hands on the steering wheel. So that they might feel like brave heroes waving from the window of the gleaming truck.

There was a playground at the park? What playground? Who needs a playground when you have a fire engine!

I think the kids even managed to forget about cake and presents as the firemen put on a demonstration of their gear. Both kids and adults were entranced and amazed as a regular guy transformed into a fire warrior.

Only after the firemen waved goodbye and pulled away in their yellow engine could we light the candles and open the presents. The carrot cake was so delicious, some of us may have snagged extra pieces. And nothing beats that cream cheese frosting.