Our 4th of July

I feel bad that I didn't take more pics that day!! The heat is really killing me lately though, i think I'm lucky I was even alive through it all....


We had a nice Independence Day this year. It started out with lots of relaxing.... just bumming around waiting for the day to start. Then we headed on down to Nate's parents' house for a fun little BBQ/activities for the kids that Jen organized. Nate was out with the kids playing Kick Ball for the first part. I was inside with Meg and the new baby. Nate said that our kids got way into the Kick ball. Kelly was a pitcher. They sure looked hot and tired when they came in. I can't believe how hot it's been lately!!

After Kick ball we had the yummy BBQ, stuffed our faces and then headed on over to the Riverton Park Fireworks and Carnival. Nate's brother Dan and his wife Jen always save us a spot by them at the park to watch the fireworks. This is pretty much an official tradition as far as I'm concerned.... we've done it almost every year since Kelly was a baby I think. Minus Alaska of course. Chris and Stephanie and her mom joined us too, along with their yummy ice cream and berries. It was an amazing fireworks display as usual (I did notice that they did mostly red and green ones, which I was wondering if those are the cheaper ones or something), but it was really nice. THe kids all loved it. It was fun to see our kids all paired up with someone there. Kelly was ecstatic to be sitting with her cousin Liz. They became soul mates at the BBQ and on the way to the park Kelly kept asking when we were going to see Liz. As we were walking she says to me, "I made a friend that's WAY older than me!" (Liz is 12) She was thrilled to have all of Liz's attention during all the time before the fireworks and during. She sat all cuddled up in a blanket with her. Now she keeps asking when Liz is going to come and sleepover. Bradley was all buddied up with Uncle Dan. He did this last year and couldn't stop talking about him for weeks after. He does look up to Dan a lot. I did have to laugh when I heard Dan asking him if he went to Kindergarten and if he's starting 1st grade this year. Brad's cute little, enthusistic nodding "yeah!" when he still has a year till he even starts Kindergarten :), hilarious. He was just so anxious to say whatever to Dan I guess :) I don't know. Makes me laugh still. Then Charity was laying with Nate and I, she had her ears covered with a blanket to protect them from the loud noises. She's not a big fan of the sounds. But at least we got her to WATCH this year. I'm thinking this is the last year for this with her.... maybe. Luke had been wrestling with Chris most of the time before the fireworks started, so he calmed down long enough to sit in Chris' lap to watch. That was pretty cute too. Noah laid on me for the first half, and then wandered around getting in and out of his stroller, playing peek-a-boo with Stephanie's Mom and eating ice cream for the last half. The show wasn't impressive enough for him I guess. I kept worrying about everyone's ears (as usual) hoping nobody suffers any permanent damage from the loud noises. They are SO LOUD when you're that close!! But I have to say, I'm so glad that my kids get to see them so close up! I remember most 4th of July's growing up we had a good seat in our front yard and didn't have to be so close to enjoy them, but it sure is neat to watch them and feel like they're going to fall right down on you. Very exciting. So anyway. My kids did so good the whole day. I was really impressed with how little whining and complaining we had, even walking back to the car afterward which is always a drag when it's 11:00 at night. But they did great. Everyone fell asleep in the car on the way home.