Happy 4th Of July

The 4th of July is one of my FAVORITE Holidays! (second favorite, to be exact. It follows closely behind Christmas). When I was younger, I'm sure the 4th of July was towards the bottom of my list of favorite Holidays because I did NOT like fireworks at all. But I love everything about it now! The colors, which always make me reflect on the History of this great Nation, and how lucky we are to live in a Country where we are FREE. The fact that it's Summer (which technically is my second favorite season, but it is the season I am always the saddest to see end) I love that the kids aren't in school so our mornings can be lazy, the sun is out and brings out tan lines and freckles on our faces, it's light out until 10:00pm and therefore our bedtime is stretched a bit, we BBQ and eat all sorts of salads for dinner, and our days are filled with sporting events, playdates, fun outings, and of course, back yard FUN! Baseball, I love watching the kids play, I love playing, and we sure love watching our Mariners play every day! Then there are the 4 F's that I love about the 4th: Friends, Family, Food, and Fireworks. Yes, I now LOVE fireworks (so those of you who have kids who hate them, or even cry at the thought of them... they too may outgrow it!) So happy 4th to all of my friends and family! I hope your day was full of sun, great food, friends and family, fireworks, and lots of red, white, and blue, just like ours was!

Trying to get a cute picture of the three of them in their 4th of July outfits, this one turned out the best :) They're so wonderful to amuse me and pose for pictures like this!
Happy 4th of July from Carter, Ava, and Cristian!
We went up to my parents house the morning of the 4th to deliver a present to my dad (since he was gone on Father's Day, we were a little late getting him his present). Thought this pic was cute because you can see their cute matching Patriotic Mickey Mouse flip flops! (Carter is going to be set for 4th of July shoes until he's 8 years old) :)
My Dad got out his old Army helmet and Cristian started marching around their driveway. You can tell by the big smile on his face how much he LOVED wearing it. Cristian really wants to be in the Army when he is older (and unfortunately for him, but fortunate for me, because of his diet issues and probable Celiac Disease, he will not be allowed to join)
Posing with a gun too :)
And anything Cristian is interested in, Ava will join in on. Here's Ava posing with the Army hat too.
Our view every day the sun is out.
We spent all afternoon at our friend's house on Lake Tapps. Family picture 1
Family picture 2
and family picture 3
Yes, even their swim suits were red, white, and blue.
Ava, Carter, and Kyle going for a swim in the lake
Cristian paddling around with his friends
Ava and Taylor
Cristian and his friend Case spent quite a bit of time diving for footballs into the lake. Kyle would throw it to them so they'd have to dive for it, and then they'd throw it back to him. Here's Ava watching the boys.
Cristian diving for (and catching) the football
Kyle and the kids going on a paddle boat ride
Carter jumping into the lake
Cristian and Ava watching the boats drive by
me and my buddy!

My pedicure

Carter warming up in the hot tub
Carter debating taking a nap right on the grass
girlfriends!
This boy loves john deere tractors!
Kaylee and Ava
Kiddos
My three sweet babies
Kaylee and Cristian playing with the puppy
Kyle and Justin talking
Red, White, and Blue Mickey Mouse towels, doesn't get more American then that :)
After a fun day at the lake, we headed to my parents house for dinner and fireworks. And like all Holidays, I always go all out decorating. Made these cute yummy treats for the kids to have :)
And had to make my traditional Flag cake
and the fruit salad was Red, White, and Blue!
The kids enjoying their All-American BBQ hamburger, corn on the cob, fruit salad and potato salad dinner.
TREATS!Since Carter had not napped, and it was already 8:00, we went ahead and did a few fireworks so he could participate before falling asleep. Here they are very excited as Auntie sets everything up.
The kids with Nan and Grampa (you can guess by this photo which of my children got just a "small portion" of my fear of fireworks).
First we lit off the parachute fireworks, because as we learned last year, it's better to be able to SEE those little army men floating down in their parachutes. Cristian and Ava both caught their parachutes mid-air on their decent down.
An excited Carter waiting his turn to catch a parachute
Ava showing off hers
Now it's Carter's turn... he waited so patiently

and he caught one mid air too, he was so excited! Here he is running to show it off to everyone
Finished showing Grandpa, now running to show Nan
Now some sparklers
Is this boy sleepy, or just super fascinated by sparklers? haha
Cristian with a sparkler
Tricia getting ready to light off a few more for Carter
Boom Boom Pop Pop
Big BOOM.
We came back inside for cake, and to wait for it to get a bit darker outside. Carter fell asleep on the couch and missed the rest of the fireworks.
Ava enjoyed the fireworks with these ear muff silencers.
And the rocket's red glare, The bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there.
Oh Say does that star-spangled banner yet wave.
O'er the land of the FREE, and the home of the Brave!
This poor doggy did not appreciate the bombs in the air at all!