The 4th

This was quite possibly the best Fourth of July ever. I think last year I was thinking that the 4th might be my favorite holiday but this year decided it for me. It was a great fun-filled day and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. It had been raining for weeks and weeks beforehand and this really was like the first nice day of the summer but it wasn't hot. Just totally perfect. So we started off the day with pancakes at the Crandalls and this year we decided to have a flag ceremony since the boys are getting old enough to understand the importance of the holiday. Ryan read some of the Constitution which was really perfect with all the political drama going on right now. I must be getting old or something because I couldn't help but get teary-eyed. I feel like this is such a pivotal time for our country and it was great to just think about how it came to be, to get back to the roots and to see everybody celebrating our country's birth.

After our flag ceremony we headed downtown for the parade. It was pretty long but we had a good spot and we weren't dying from the heat so it was fun. Gwen was captivated! She loved every second! 

At one point in the parade, a float for robotics came by. Carson was sitting on Ryan's lap and this guy comes up from behind him and asks him what his son's (Carson's) name was. Ryan told him when he realized the guy was a part of the float and a second later the robot says "Happy Fourth of July to Carson! Carson sitting on Dad's lap!" Carson thought that was pretty awesome. The best part of the parade though was the Batmobile. I have to admit that it was very impressive.

We headed home to jump in the "pool tub" and have some lunch.

Later on we had an BBQ with friends.

Then we headed to the dock for the fireworks. The Crandalls rent a dock on the lake and the owner usually comes during the summer for the 4th so we haven't been able to go but this year the owner said he wasn't going to come. So we got to use the dock instead and let me just say that that is the way to go! It was so beautiful! It was awesome not having to deal with the crowds and other people swearing and smoking (like last year). And we were able to light off our fireworks before the show so afterwards we just went home and went to bed.

Gwen wasn't a fan of the fireworks at first. She would get upset when they started popping but after a while she warmed up to it. She didn't love it but she couldn't tear her eyes away.