America's Birthday

We had a fun 4th this year. The weekend before we went to visit Rick's family. Aunt Laura and Uncle Dean always have a huge party at their house on the lake. We're talking loads of food, live music, and a nice firework show. "Nice" as long as you're not 2 1/2 and absolutely terrified of them, that is. Poor little guy was sooo excited. The first one went off and he thought it was the coolest thing ever. But somewhere between that first one and the second he changed his mind drastically. The hands went over the ears and the sobbing started and we hauled it to the truck as he yelled protect me, Mommy! over and over. Maybe next year? Ha!

I'm totally mad at myself for not having my camera out when my BIL and SIL and their kids got there. We got to meet our new neice Carleigh and she is such a cute little thing! Something about a fresh newborn in your arms that makes you almost have baby fever. Harper was not a fan of me holding another baby. Not. At. All.

"Harry" aka "Papaw's Boy"

Daddy's girl

Mamaw, using a baby to hide from the camera

Outta my way, Mom.

Hmmm, this looks like a fun car to fight over.

Harrison looks pretty thrilled to share his Papaw's lap with his sister.

Just look at that gorgeous sunset.

On the 4th, we took the kids to our town's local Teddy Bear Parade. It was really cute. It was basically just a parade of decorated bikes/wagons/strollers and ended at the park where there was a fun festival. Everything was free: hot dogs, drinks, cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones, bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, and some local entertainment. It was a lot of fun and not unbearably hot since the park is shaded by huge oak trees.

That afternoon we had our small group over for a BBQ. I didn't manage to take a single picture of anybody but it was so good to finally have everybody together again under one roof! The kids had fun playing on the slip 'n slide and swimming and we had fun watching them and catching up with everybody.

I decorated the wagon and the pups the night before

patriotic toast for breakfast

And patriotic fruit for a snack

Waiting for the parade to start

 Harrison was adorable. He kept chanting U. S. A.! U. S. A.!  and waving and yelling to everybody that IT'S AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY! and AMERICA IS OUR COUNTRY! and THE AMERICA FLAG HAS FIFTY STARS ON IT!  He's been obsessed with flags since he's seen them everywhere and every time he sees some he yells LOOK AT ALL THOSE FLAGS!!! Except he can't say his L's. Makes it a little akward for his mama when he yells "flag" without pronouncing the "l". I'm just sayin'.

U.S.A!

Well hello there Mr. Cow

Harper begging for some cotton candy from Rachel

He was so excited to ride the pony



A great day.