Celebrating America

As Americans we spent last weekend celebrating the birthday of our great Nation.  We took time to first explain to Shea why we celebrate July 4th.  I first put it in simple terms and she quickly got it.  I said, "you know how we celebrate your birthday every year"?  Her eyes lit up, of course she knows.  I said, "the Fourth of July Celebrations are to celebrate the birthday of our Nation".  Bingo, she gets it.  Over the weekend we gradually went into deeper discussions on the matter.  Friday night we started the weekend by turning off the lights, I popped some pop corn and we watched Red, White & Boom in HD on the TV.  The kids loved it.  Shea asked to go there next year.  We'll see!

Saturday we worked around the house and Shawn spent the day re-coating our driveway.  Now did you really think he could take time off.  He also worked on the new rabbit hutch.  In between parties and boating.

Sunday the kids were ready to go.  It was the 4th of July at time for the annual Bike Parade on Palouse!  The kids decorate their bikes, scooters, golf carts, you get the picture and ride up and down Palouse Drive.  Shea was really looking forward to it this year.

Shea and Will, ready to ride!

After working for a while and Will getting a nap in, time for the party hopping to begin.  We started out at our friends, Brian and Nicci.  The kids swam, played in the sand box and fished off of the dock.  They all had so much fun playing together.

Bri, Olivia & Shea

We ate and we were really trying to eat light, we had another party we wanted to eat at.  Well... We all over ate.  The food was good!  Will decided he wanted to sit down and say cheese as loud as he could.  OK, I'll oblige.

He gets up and I go about my business, taking pictures of the kids.  Jen was doing the same at this time.  I did not see Will do this but he took a cup cake off of Lilly's plate and ate it.  As evident when Jen went chasing him and got this photo.  For the record, I later learned where he got the snack!

ORNERY!

It was time to head to our friends, The Homan's, for more fun and food.  Here the kids played on the swing set, did a pinata, and ran around.  Lots of friends there for us to chat with and the best part, seeing the Homan's newly re-modeled kitchen!

I have to add in a little bit of Buckeye stuff...  You see, our friend Paul is a Badger.  He can't help that he's from Wisconsin and we remind him of it frequently.  Every year around the time we play the Badger's Paul and our other friend, DJ (a Buckeye fan) have a bet.  This year, the looser had to wear something showing the other teams logo one time each week for a year.  Paul picked a great night to wear this...

Oh my, time to hit the boat for fireworks!!!

  What a nice sunset we had to watch.

Shea and Noah were ready to watch.  They didn't move until the end when we told them they could honk the horn to show our appreciation of the show.  Will was on my lap and kept saying, "Wow, boats"!  They all had a great time.  Kendall was sitting next to me, sorry to not get a shot.

By the time we got home it was late and we were tired.  We promised the kids we'd do the sparklers the next night.  After an afternoon of swimming out in the cove, dinner and smores over the fire pit, we let them.  I think they really liked it.  They kept saying, "One more, please"?!

We hope you enjoyed your Holiday weekend.  We did and can't wait until next year.  Happy Birthday, America!!