First of all, Happy 4th of July from Florence, Italy!!!

Yup, even though we currently live in a different country, the 4th is still a celebration for us, too! We hosted a BBQ for our American friends and enjoyed spending time with them while eating great American food that everyone made for the occasion. It was a fun day!

Colton had a super fun time playing outside while everyone ate, talked, and partied! He got filthy dirty and sweaty, but isn't that what a boy is meant to do???

Summer has hit in full force here in Florence. It seems like overnight it got H-O-T and there's no going back until October. I know that it's hot in a lot of places around the U.S., too, but this is different. It's in the mid-upper 90's every day but the real kicker is that THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING...anywhere. So basically, you get hot and can never cool down. It's maddening! I literally wake up sticky and sweaty after going to bed sticky and sweaty. How many showers/baths can one family take in a day??? We'll be finding out this summer!

We're excited, though, to put Colton's new kiddy pool in the back yard this week. He absolutely loves to play outside and I think having a place to splash around/cool off will be so exciting for him! And for me! I plan to sit in that pool at least as much as Colton does. :) Pics will come soon, I'm sure.

Other than that, nothing too exciting is going on. Colton is now 21-months-old (Though that still seems young when he is repeatedly mistaken for a 3-year-old by the Italians. He's just so tall, especially here in Italy.) and I've been trying to take pictures of some of our "everyday life" things. So here are a few pics of Colton living life at 21-months.

Colton fell off a chair and had his trip to the ER (Pronto Soccorso, in Italian) and first stitches this month. 6 stitches, to be exact. Here's a picture of the wound.

He was not at all hindered or slowed down by his injury, though. He has been just as curious and active as ever! So active, in fact, that he re-injured himself and we had to make a second trip to the ER just a week and a half after the first one. Don't worry, though, he is fine.

Colton loves helping us now. Here he's helping Daddy try to hook up some cable. He is also a big fan of helping me unload the silverware from the dishwasher. He does a great job!

Colton loved dressing up for the World Cup! He wore an Italy jersey for all of the Italy games, a USA shirt for all the USA games, and a Fifa World Cup shirt in between. He's a real fan. :)

Colton wanted to put on one of Daddy's t-shirts recently. He had a great time walking around the house in it but could not figure out why it was so big! :)

Well, that's it for life at the Stowers' house...for now! Once again, Happy 4th to our friends and family in America. We missed celebrating with you but, as always, you were in our thoughts!