4th of July

We had a busy and fun-filled three day weekend this year celebrating the holiday with family and friends.  On Friday night (the 3rd), we were invited to Steve's sister's house for dinner and to watch their fireworks in Williamston.  Jack really enjoyed them and was a real trooper ... staying up until almost 11 pm before falling asleep in the van on the way home.  Sophia made it almost to our subdivision before she was fast asleep herself.  Into the house for quick baths (the kids were covered in bug spray -- the mosquitos are horrible right now) and then tucked into bed before midnight.

On Saturday morning (the 4th), we ate breakfast and then got ready to partake in our subdivision's annual festivities.  First up -- the parade down to the park.

I helped the kids decorate their bikes and the wagon the day before in preparation for the event.  Throw in a couple of crazy headbands and some beads and you have a festive group!

Sophia declared that very morning that she would like to work on riding without training wheels.  Hmmmm ... maybe that will be something that we will practice this summer.

While Jack jumped on his bike for the picture, we knew that he would need to ride in the wagon for the long parade.

Such a patriotic little man:

Cheering on his way out of the driveway:

The girls were way ahead of us on our way to meet up with the rest of the parade participants:

Ready to take off:

Once we made it to the park, the kids grabbed some refreshments -- a donut and a cup of apple juice.  Just what they needed after the long parade ride.

And then they joined in some water games with all of us cheering them on:

Jack was especially intrigued by the buckets of water with sponges.  It was all I could do to keep him from taking the sponges out of every single one of them.

I distracted him by taking him over to get a tattoo.  I think that it was his very first one.  The girls have had approximately 12578359 of them by now in their lives!  Ha!

The girls found the craft station and set to work coloring.

Samantha chose to have her tattoo put on her cheek.

Sophia was a little more conservative and had her American flag placed on her arm.

Time to decorate cupcakes!

Of course, you need to eat your decorated cupcake the second that it is finished!  (Jack got to have a cupcake without frosting -- this momma knows better than to give a two-year old a cupcake with lots of gooey frosting and sprinkles!)

And then the beach finally drew them in.  Yes, I didn't put bathing suits on the kids this year (major Mom failure), but I gave them permission to play away.

And Sam took those words to heart.  It wasn't long before she was soaked ... but she didn't seem to mind one bit.

 

Yes, it was the most perfect day.

Happy Birthday, America.