The week leading up to the 4th of July, we started to wear our red, white & blue. I sorted through the girls' closets and found tons of options. I even let them pick out some of their clothes for the week! Surprisingly enough, the only piece of patriotic clothing I purchased for the girls this year was a dress from Eleanor Rose that came before Memorial Day, so we're going to get good use out of it this year as the holidays continue through the summer & fall.
Getting in the patriotic spirit!
Red, white & blue manicures for everyone
Patriotic service at church
Due to my efforts in organizing decorations by holidays before our move, I was easily able to locate this cute little 4th of July banner I purchased last year, probably at Target in the dollar section, and also some flags. We mildly decorated our barely furnished new home and started to get ready for the weekend.
We did our annual trip to see fireworks at Southlake Town Square on the 3rd, which is always hotter than hot, a big mess of people, and lots of fun. I like that we can take our kids back to where we used to watch fireworks when we were young. This year we had a bit of an obstacle in our family excursion since we have discovered that Janie is afraid of fireworks. We went to a Rangers game last spring that had a fireworks show at the end. Janie hated it. She cried and asked to go home multiple times. We were torn with do we stay {let one child be happy and the other tortured} or leave {one child is furious and the other comfortable} and ended up just removing her from the view of the fireworks. I really don't know if it is the sound or the light that scares her more. Anyways, she doesn't like them. We talked her into headphones, which she enjoyed the idea of, but she enjoyed tantalizing Nora with the fact that she was going to get to wear them and Nora was not even more. So... we loaded up the wagon, brought our American flags, and two sets of ear gear.
We parked, paraded the family around the square, ate dinner, played in the fountain, made Boomerang videos, and then headed to our firework watching spot. We need to remember to come the night before next year, to stake out a more comfortable place. We passed the time with family & friends and then when the fireworks began, we got the headphones and ear plugs all situated. Janie still wanted to be held and covered her eyes for some of the louder & brighter parts of the show, but didn't seem nearly as uncomfortable as she had been previously. Nora enjoyed the fireworks but was a bit more squirmy as she was probably pretty exhausted. I doubt she napped that afternoon as that has been a "thing" lately. After the fireworks show, we started the trek back to the car along with the masses of people, with a screaming toddler in tow as she was unhappy about leaving Pops {guess who?!} The girls had a fun, exhausting night celebrating America!
Photo Credit: PHOTOconcepts {on location photographer at event}
Waving those flags!
This was the best family picture we got...
Passing the time before fireworks.
Headphones on! Still apprehensive.
Photo Credit: PHOTOconcepts {on location photographer at event}
On the 4th, we invited our family over for a little pool party. It was kind of a last minute thing, but it worked out pretty well! We all pretty much just hung out in the pool, ate barbecue chicken from the grill and enjoyed cold drinks. We did an early afternoon get together, so fireworks were not an issue in the evening. We ended up putting the girls to bed at their regular hour, which was good considering they had a late night the evening before.
Ready for a pool party!
Some fun in the pool!
We enjoy celebrating America each year on the 4th! Happy Independence Day to all of our family, friends & followers. We hope you all remember and rejoice in the liberties that we are allowed because of the ultimate sacrifice of many men & women who put the needs of our country above all else. Let us not take for granted the freedoms that we have and the luxuries that we have access to.
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