Happy 4th of July!

We had a wonderful 4th of July this year! Last year we were split up on 2 different continents!

We have a tradition of going to see the balloons every year, so we were up bright and early for that! We missed the begining when they were all inflating. I love that part because you can walk all around them and see inside and get a perspective of just how massive they are. But it was perfect ballooning weather! It was the perfect temperature, the perfect breeze, everything! Once the hot air balloons are in the air, they have to make their way back to the field and drop a bean bag on a target and then try to spear some helium filled balloons to earn points. It's really fun to watch and see how close they can get. It's amazing how well they can control the balloons to come back and get so close!

Alexander's is the lead balloon every year and he has an extra X target, so if he can't get back to the field, he can drop it somewhere else for the balloonist to make it to. This year he was able to get back so they all had to make it back to our field. The pic below is him bringing the X back.

Macie enjoying the balloons

We then went back and made Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast for breakfast at Rich's parents house. We served 18 family members & I know my kids loved it!

After a good nap, we went to Rich's brothers house and visited while Dallas and Richie helped build a "contraption". Every year they link hundreds of fireworks together all over a hand built frame so that you light one match and then watch a domino effect of continuous fireworks for the next 15 minutes. It gets quite elaborate! It has become quite a hit in the neighborhood! We had quite a large crowd this year!

A few of the "boys" working on the contraption

Like Father like Son! Dallas & his cousin Oliver even built one on their own this year. They started off by drawing a "plan" and making a list of what they would need and then spent the afternoon of the 4th putting it all together. They had a lot of fun and were very proud of their own contraption!

The kids watching a few early fireworks to get pumped up for the show

Richie and Cohen

Jordan eating some of the yummy "pre-show" treats!

Jordan and Cohen in their Red, White, & Blue

Right after 9 as the crowds were gathering, the wind started to blow and we started feeling rain drops, and then it blew harder, and harder. And then the rain drops started coming faster and faster. So the little kids and me went to the car for a little while to hide out from the storm. It finally passed and they were able to light the match!!!

This is the best pic I could get of the fireworks! It is really fun to watch!

This just shows a portion of the crowd that was there! There were at least twice this many on their lawn and some up and down the side walks on the other side of the street.

Jordan & Cohen snuggling with Grandma and Aunt Kellie.

It was their first time for fireworks and they were a little nervous!

Jordan holding his first Sparkler, it was about out by the time I could take a pic.

But surprisingly he wasn't very scared of it!

But we had a wonderful 4th of July celebration! Thanks to all of our family who celebrated with us and helped us enjoy it. Being out of the country last year for the 4th and experiencing life in another country sure makes you thankful that you live in America and have all the freedoms that we have. This is definitely a choice land that we live in and I am thankful for all of the many people, today and in the past, who have done so much to protect our freedoms and our land! I love the saying.... Land of the Free, because of the Brave!