happy 4th!

we were thrilled that this 4th of july weekend arrived with much better weather than last year! our tradition is for the big kids to sleep over with karina at nana & pappy's house on the 3rd so that they can walk down the street to the parade on the morning of the 4th.

(parade pictures courtesy of aunt kristie...)


yeah, there was no getting amelia to look at the camera.

parade= candy, candy, candy, oh and flavor-pops!





the kids are usually all patriotically hyped up on sugar by the time we arrive... with more sugar! (and some fruit and veggies to balance things out.)


i experimented and made some patriotic birthday cake popcorn. white chocolate, cake mix, sprinkles, and popcorn. how can you go wrong?


i also went a little pinterest happy and thought these red, white, and blue rice krispie treats would be fun. and then i caught some cuties who thought the same thing!



we cooked out but ate in cause it's (blazing hot) florida!!

everything tastes better on a flag plate!!


isn't that right, amelia?! (yessssss, she looked at the camera!)


the guys found a spot out of the sun for a little cornhole...


and before we knew it, we were loading up for the fireworks! uncle jeff got us the major hookup this year. he and kristie have some friends who live on the water, right next to where the fireworks are set up. we were excited to have front row seats!!! uncle safety slowly drove the kids in the back of the truck (with 2 moms in back, too) while pappy safety stressed out for the entire 3 block ride as we drove behind them. :) it was incredibly entertaining!!


oh look! more candy!


moon! moon moon moon moon moon moooooooon!


love these cousin twins :)


we hurried to get a family picture before it got too too dark. so blessed to live in america and to be free to raise our children with a biblical worldview. we cannot take this for granted today!


this is the point on 4th of july when i no longer have camera privileges. brian gets in his zone setting up the tripod and getting the camera on juuuuust the right settings for fireworks pics. meanwhile, the kids are continuing to run and squeal and make memories that will never be documented because i don't have my camera plastered to my face!!!! and he always tells me, "as soon as i get a few good ones, i'll give the camera back to you." mmmmhmmm....

the sun went down...


and the lights came out! we usually do this with sparklers but tried light sticks this year. the kids were standing in just the right spot where The Fireworks Camera could snap this one.


here are "a few good ones" that brian snapped. i guess i'll stop complaining now. 'cause these are pretty cool.







little miss hallie did not care for the fireworks at first. she spend the first half of the show shaking in my lap like a dog during a thunderstorm. she buried her head in my face and refused to watch them as she said, "no!" over and over. then she suddenly just turned around, relaxed, and enjoyed the rest of the show! and she spent the rest of the night saying, "boom, boom!" i was so glad she ended up liking them.


this is us pretending to watch fireworks, since i couldn't take something like this during the show. haha. yes, i realize this is ridiculous.


nana and pappy are totally humoring me here-- that is one bright flash in the dark!!


after the fireworks show, we went back to nana & pappy's for the encore... pop-its! my kiddos love these things.


sibling fun. also known as the one where hallie eats a pop it.


caroline figured out that if you throw a bunch down, it makes a pretty loud noise. thus began the dumping of the pop-its!


and that was our 4th of july! i pray my children will one day truly understand the significance of our independence day celebration. they do know the history behind it, and we strive to stress the blessings surrounding the beginning of our great nation. but i am sure as children, in their minds, this holiday is about fireworks and candy and sleepovers at nanas. many men and women sacrificed their comforts for my children to innocently dance in the dark, waving sticks of every color. many soldiers gave up their lives so that the only "boom boom" that causes my toddler to shake is the noise of a celebratory explosion in the sky. as we celebrate america and all that our founders stood for, we praise God and ask Him to revive our land.