My Second Favorite Holiday

I.absolutely.love the 4th of July.
It's second only to Halloween for this chicka.

We started getting ready for the big day by making fireworks...

and decorating with red, white, and blue pom poms.

We continued our preparations by heading to a fireworks stand
for sparklers, fountains, snakes, smoke bombs, and snappers.

Picking out fireworks with my brothers and sisters
is one of my favorite memories as a kid.

Everyone took their selections very seriously.

Andy went nuts.
Growing up in Colorado where most fireworks were illegal,
it was his first trip to a fireworks stand.

Growing up out in the country in Missouri for part of my childhood,
we lived by the philosophy that anything goes...
including bottle rocket fights.

We all dressed up in our red, white, and blue...

decorated the wagon...
and walked in the bike and pet parade.

Andy survived his first 5K.

Latte enjoyed all the attention.

We watched the big parade...

where the candy and Cold Stone coupon were the best parts according to AJ.

Girlfriend thought it was great...

free suckers...
she didn't even have to use the big girl potty to get.

Cousin baby V rocked his patriotic colors.

Then we headed home for a family BBQ with homemade lemonade in mason jars.

We partied on by riding donkeys and a barrel train, face painting, and
bouncing in inflatables at the local festival...

Before some tailgating action awaiting fireworks.

AJ agrees with his momma that the 4th rocks.
Abby is absolutely terrified of fireworks.