Here we are at Monday again. It's been ages since I've blogged...and I'm not mad about it. Blogging can get...ugh. But for some reason, I just keep coming back. You may have noticed the blog has an entirely new look. More on that in the coming days. But for nowwwww...I'm recapping our 4th of July!

The 4th of July has always been big in our family. Not only is it quite the holiday, but it also happens to be my sister's birthday. So happiest birthday to my very best friend!

Okay! We started our 4th of July off with me barely scraping together enough pancake mix to get a festive breakfast going. We have plenty of fresh fruit...but I need a desperate trip to Costco to restock our pantry.  True to form...nobody cared about the red and blue quite like I did. Well, Kaye kind of did. She asked if I was done taking pictures of her food.
After breakfast we readied ourselves for a small-town parade. This small-town parade is practically further away than Boise...but I will say...far better than any Boise parade I've been to. Granted...there was no marching band or giant balloons, but there were 4th of July themed floats and water guns and I wasn't paranoid that our kids were going to get stolen or hit by a shriner.
The only image I snagged of all three patriotic sisters...
After the parade we headed to the park where there was music and dancing and a few activities set up for the kids.

One of those activities was a race! Obviously Kaye wanted to be signed up for her very first competition...so we did...and she did. She won her age group and took home a dollar as a prize. She was beyond pleased with herself and so was I. I will never get over being proud of my kids and each minuscule accomplishment. It's a better feeling than anything I could do myself.

Following the parade we headed to Amy and Ryan's farm for their annual BBQ and fireworks show. The kids ran around and around and around...and around. Brody stopped long enough to tell me how cute Elli is and take some pictures. Just so it's noted...Brody LOOOOOVES Elli. He's always so kind, gentle, and always asks to hold her. It really is the sweetest.

Highlight - A nest fell out of a tree in the yard and the kids were immediately enthralled with the tiniest baby birds...and hopefully they were able to save one bird's life. We'll never know...
We (Amy) was able to snag another group picture of all the kids - 12 total. Please note the crossing of Elli's adorable little feet and the fact that Sawyer insisted on wearing her bikini. I don't even know? Actually, I do. We told her there might be sprinklers going...So she was all in for a swim party after that. Upon arrival Sawyer spent some time on the swing and managed to fall off and get some pretty amazing scrapes all over her forehead. Our farmer has taken to calling her Scar Face. And she now calls it - The Bad Swing.

Kaye had one little issue - She told one of the girls that mermaids poop in the ocean. It made the girl cry and Kaye felt terrible. I, personally, thought it was hilarious. But Kaye was upset that she upset her new friend. She really has the very best heart.
Soon we were sitting around their court setting off fireworks...risking our lives. Nobody was hurt with sparklers this year...But a suspicious looking Robo-Doggie firework shot it's head and tail off and hit two kids...soooooo? We'll probably pass on that one in the future. However, if you ever have the opportunity to buy a ladybug firework...do it. It's been my favorite to date, even though it almost came down on my head...twice.
At around 9:30 pm I ended up taking Elli-girl home because...she's a baby. Russell stayed with the big kids (ie. the other kids and dads) and they shot bottle rockets at each other. The dads...not the kids. They launched some giant fireworks and it was clearly the best day of our kids' lives. Seriously...Kaye told me so several times.

Thank you to the Johnson's for hosting another eventful holiday gathering full of good food, fun, and a little danger.