4th of July

This year I wasn't sure how we'd juggle 4th of July festivities.  I have grown a lot this year as far as letting go of the ideal image I hold in my head.  I like to do things as a family and we have had to split and conquer a lot this last year.  I keep reminding myself that it's only temporary.

On Saturday night we went to an annual 4th of July party at a neighbor's house.  I only stayed an hour, then headed home to put the boys to bed.  Andy stayed a couple more hours with the girls.
 

My babes.

Ella dancing at the party with glow bracelets on.

Sparklers at our house after the party.

On the actual 4th, I was served breakfast in bed!  I later noticed a text from Andy with this picture saying, "Come and get it" but I didn't see the message and I'm glad I didn't since it was delivered to me and Gabe in bed, lol.  I wish I was sleeping in but I wasn't. 

Gabe and I were hanging out together.

Andy took Lilly to the pool for the 4th of July festivities while I took the other three to Target.  Ella wanted a slushie and popcorn.

 Andy was kind enough to send me many pictures from his phone, documenting the day.  I was sad to miss the activities but have learned that with four small kids we have to divide and conquer.  The littles needed to nap and I actually got some very rare alone time.  Lilly waited in line to throw water balloons at lifeguards.

 She also did the cake walk!

 My favorite 4th activity is the penny dive.  This is Lilly's last year in the baby pool.  Next year she'll have to get the coins from the 3 ft.

 Pie eating contest!  Lilly and Lindsay gearing up...

 Playing ping pong with "the read headed boys" as Lilly calls them.  Our friends the Longos.

 Lilly won a pool/toy bucket raffle!

Around 4 p.m. I met Lilly and Andy at the pool with the other three and we had dinner and enjoyed time swimming with friends.  In the evening we met up with the red headed boys and family for fireworks.  Jackie and Thomas hung at our house with the sleeping boys so Andy and I could take the girls together.  

I decided on a spot about a mile away from the actual fireworks location.  Andy wasn't happy with me because he wanted the girls to have the real fireworks experience with mobs of people and traffic to boot.  I wasn't interested so we settled on the lawn of a CVS!! Ha!!  It was fine and Ella saw her first fireworks.

Goofball self-portrait.  Andy acting enthralled.