Happy Independence Day!!

I think July 4th is one of the greatest holidays.  All the patriotic pride, the old fashioned + iconic summertime traditions, parades, cookouts, fireworks, what's not to love.  I don't have a ton of July 4th memories growing up.  Probably because my parents are European and we didn't have a local firework celebration until I was much older.  I know Andrew really looks forward to all the 4th festivities.  He begins asking me as soon as school is out what dessert I'll be making this year.   I snapped a ton of photos the last couple days.    Here's a peek at our two day {simple} celebration....


I decorated Charlie's bike while he napped yesterday.  He was soo excited when he woke up, but as soon as he realized Andrew decorated his scooter, he had to have his scooter decorated too. Brothers.




Our village fireworks were on Tuesday night. Jimmy and I were torn about how to spend the evening. We had tickets to see Jimmy's favorite musician in concert about an hour away.  I hated to miss our town's fireworks, hated for the boys to miss it, and worried about leaving them with a sitter, so I canceled on my hubs at the last minute.  I stayed and took the kids to the park and he went to the concert.  Alone.  Boo. He understood and didn't given me a hard time, but I felt a little bad for him.  Any other night {so long as it didn't interfere with a holiday, kid's activity, birthday, etc.} and I would have been there. Happily.




Today we headed to nearby Ault Park for the bike, scooter, stroller parade.  The boys found the fountain full of bubbles on arrival.  They went a little crazy. I mean head first into the bubbles.  I lost Andrew, then I lost Charlie and discovered he'd landed in the fountain.  He was fine, but not happy.  He was soaked and ready to go before the parade started.  Luckily he was quick to turn his mood around. But not before he tore his contestant number off his back, see picture below.  I think he actually tore it off, crumpled it up, and stomped on it... You know those moments when every single child around you is behaving like an angel and yours, well, yours just isn't.



Those are not tattoos on Charlie, but Avenger band-aids.  No boo-boos underneath them either, he's just making a fashion statement.


It was SOOOOOOOO hot.  Sweaty faces + hair.  Thankfully I hadn't showered or bothered with makeup, both would have been useless.


There were 180 children in the parade.  They did a total of 3 laps while Yankee Doodle Dandy boomed from the speakers on the stage.


A certain shirtless child of mine kept going after the rest or the parade ended.  Maybe 10 laps.  Clearly having the time of his life.  His tumble into the bubble fountain long forgotten.


Hey Charlie, the parade is over buddy.   There were, of course, the over achievers, showing the rest of us up...




But we didn't walk away empty handed.  Even Andrew's more modest decorations earned him a medal for  "best decorated" in his age group...



The rest of the day I spent playing hostess to my little family of four.  We had a simple dinner outside. Salad, burgers, fresh lemonade and wine....


Table set with paci, sippy cup and a jar of pickles.  I swear it looked cute before we sat down.  But this is real life, not a magazine, there is a BIG difference!  :) {And yes, Elizabeth, this would be the second time in one week we are eating the same salad!!}


I rarely, RARELY, like a picture of myself, but this one of C and me, I love.  Wish Andrew was there though, he was still busy eating.






We ended the day on a very sweet note!! Happy Birthday, USA!!
xo


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