We adore this patriotic time of year!
Here are snippets from our fun and festive 2013 Independence Day.
The day started (painfully) early for the 7:30am Ward Pancake Breakfast.
With three young children, it's not that we're not normally awake by then.
But being presentable by then - oh my, that's another story.
Let's be honest, we got there about 7:50.
Which means we didn't have to stand in line.
Success!
I adore their festive shoes.
Claire calls her pair her "fourth of July shoes" year-round.
For the girls, the highlight was building sand castles on the volleyball court.
I love little girls in festive clothes and bows.
That brings my use of the word festive up to five.
It won't be my last.
These girls have known each other since they were wee babies.
Little Grant had a massive cold.
But his red eyes matched his attire.
And he was a pleasant boy regardless.
After church, I made us do obligatory photos out front.
Because I'm a mom - and that's what we do.
To finish off our morning, the girls and I watched Yankee Doodle Dandy.
While our boys took a fitting and festive nap.
Grandma came over in the early afternoon for our family party.
Our food, as usual, didn't disappoint.
Mom made our second-annual red, white, and blue drinks.
We're totally making that a tradition.
For the rest of the meal I made pulled pork sandwiches with apple coleslaw, spicy fried onions, baked beans, and homemade mac and cheese. Mom made red, white, and blue layered Jell-O and a red, white, and blue fruit bowl.
Our family really commits to a theme.
I am full just thinking about it.
And it is four days later.
But we were in food heaven while we were eating it.
I made out traditional very berry pie (with star cut-outs, of course).
Please ignore the Home Depot bag on my desk and look at that cute, content baby holding a baby.
Just so precious.
The good fireworks in our city didn't go off until after the Sky Sox game ended.
And it was a long game.
So while we waited, we watched fireworks on television from New York City and Washington D.C.
The girls were just as excited.
We have video of them dancing around screaming "Yay! Fireworks!"
They did that for 30 minutes straight.
No joke.
The patriotic music was totally trying to work tear ducts.
But I kept it together. Barely.
I love America. And I love great music.
I can't help myself.
Daddy piled the two fireworks cheerleaders into the car to drive closer to the big display.
They discovered the game was only in the seventh inning.
So they stuck around to wait some more we tucked our cuties in bed and called fireworks good.
In the end it was a quiet but exciting day filled with just the festivities and reflection it needs.
We're just so thankful to live in the country we live in.
And for the brave people that have made it possible throughout history and today.
God Bless America!