4th of July 2010 ~ part 1

We had a pretty good 4th of July this year.  (Well, technically July 3rd)  Unfortunately, Jason came down with strep, and because he hadn’t been on medicine long enough, had to miss out on a lot of the festivities.  Sad :(  We started out the day by going to Murray Park and watching all the runners.  Savannah and Michaela ran the 1K for the 2nd year, and this year, they were joined by their cousin Emma.  They did an awesome job!!  Savannah is really quite the little runner.  She practiced for this race all year at school by running during recess around a little track they have.  Michaela always tells me she doesn’t like running if I try to have them practice, but she gets into the thrill of it and does a fantastic job!!

Here are Megan, Savannah and Michaela’s feet.  Notice Michaela’s socks…Santa socks….Christmas in July?!?  Only Michaela could get away with it!

Lily waiting for sisters to come running in! ~ The girls with Emma

Look at my cute runner girls!!!

Showing off their dog tag medals

We stayed and watched most of the parade.  The girls really got into the candy!  Lily ate it about as fast as she got it.  Then we headed to grandma and grandpa Fergy’s and had ourselves some fun in the sun, and YUMMY food!

We splashed

Posed                                                     Built bridges with noodles

 

Played with Uncle Davey

 

Dave showed off his very patriotic hat

We had water noodle fights

and Jared played with Kye.  (such cute cousins!)  And at times the two were on the lawn by themselves as mothers were in and out of the house.  Jared being the older of the two, kept a good watch on Kye and made sure he didn’t get into any trouble!

It was a really fun afternoon, but all that fun left no room for naps for most of the kiddos.

We went back to Murray Park that night for fireworks. (***WARNING: blog post takes a “slightly” cranky tone from this point on.  Read on at your own risk***)  We got dinner on the way and then ate it on a hill.  That was traumatizing.  Especially by myself.  And with potatoes and gravy.  And  pop being spilled all over the blankets.  And “slightly” ornery children.  And 9 trips to the nasty port-a-potties.  And a baby who chose this moment to learn to pull himself into a sitting position with his abs and then tumble over himself down the hill. (Which was actually pretty cute, if not for the fact that he wouldn’t stay still!!  My buff little man!)  And I pretty much needed a nap by this time! ;)

Do you see my kind-of crazed expression in the picture?

We played with glow sticks (which was also traumatizing—all of my kids were yelling at me at the same time for which color they needed next)  Once they were all handed out, they provided a good distraction as we waited for the fireworks to begin.

Then we watched the show….Oh, except first, I had to chase down a child who started running away in the dark and tell her to come sit, and then when she wouldn’t, had to put her in time-out, and then eventually walk her down the sidewalk away from everyone because she was throwing a giant fit, and I know she was tired, but so was I, and I was definitely DONE being by myself for the day!!  So, although a mostly great day, by the end of it, it was great to get back home to daddy, (who was luckily feeling tons better) and go to bed!! 

We did really enjoy the fireworks, and that helped to calm us down.  Thanks all of my family for helping me throughout the day, for all the fun and laughs, and for spending a great holiday with us!! (cranky and all!)