4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July.  It's always been a favorite holiday of mine, not only because I'm so grateful to live in America, but also because it means spending so much time with my family.  I really missed celebrating my birthday with my brother Brad again this year (mine is on the 3rd and his is on the 4th) as well as the family bbqs, fireworks, and the Murray parade.  Those things, along with the salt water taffy that just isn't catching on in Ohio, are definitive of the 4th.  Since we aren't in Utah though, we had to make some fun of our own with our good friends who are really starting to feel like family to us.

We attended the Hilliard parade:

 Little girl is still pretty even though she has a cold...

 I'm living vicariously through her by buying her jellies at a young age.  I loved jellies and always wanted some when I was little.  My dreams came true when I got my first pair. :)

 The little fam

 Me

 Ben and his mini-me

 Silly E telling some story

 Girl loving the horses.  She is in love with animals right now and makes little excited noises with her mouth in the shape of an "o".

After some good long naps by all, we let the kids go swimumum.  It was a special treat to have Daddy join in.

Her limp pigtails make me giggle

We had a barbeque with some friends at Frank's Park and hung out until the fireworks started.

E really enjoyed the sparklers

Our whole family right before the fireworks show.  E kept pretending to grab them and hand them to me.  He called them "golden globes".  Sammi sang to the big fireworks but hated the illegal ones that people kept setting off because they were so loud.  The kids were both troopers even though it was such a long day.

Happy 4th of July!