July 3rd, Part Deux- Freedom Festival and the actual 4th

After Red, White & Zoo- and a nap- we spent the second half of the day at the Freedom Festival for the second year in a row. We met back up with Leslie and Sutton and added Sutton's Aunt Jessie. Eddie and Brian joined us later in the evening. Again, we ate first (food is always high priority around here!). Once we finished dinner, Layla could hardly wait to get on the rock wall...




Unfortunately... she didn't get very far before it occured to her that she didn't know what would happen if she let go. Then she turned around and realized there was no one and nothing behind her. Panic. So... that was over pretty quickly. No worries, on to face paint. They had wanted to get their face painted at the zoo earlier in the day but I knew we'd have half a tiger smeared across their faces after naps so we waited. That was our next mission.

I think I may have shouted one too many commands, lol "Look at me! Smile! Show me your cheek!" It confused them.


Sutton's Fireworks


We had planned to let the kids spend some time on the bouncy houses next, but it was going to cost us an arm and a leg and the lines were ridiculous. So we basically wandered around for a bit. Just in time for Eddie and Brian to come and then we decided to get some sweet treats, find a nice grassy spot and park ourselves for a while. We ended up just staying there for the rest of the night and just letting the kids (and Jessie!) run around and play. It was THE perfect spot to watch the firework show later on.



Me and my independent babes :)



The whole gang setting up for fireworks (Sutton and Brynn were both sitting in my lap while I took this picture.)



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On the actual holiday, we kept things pretty low key. I knew we'd be exhausted from so much celebrating the day before. We went swimming at mom's (without mom, or anyone else from my family for that matter, lol). Actually, Uncle B, Angel and Evan did surprise us and come for a little bit! We actually spent the day with our friends April and sweet Ava Lou, and their family. April's mom Jo plans a mean cookout!! It was awesome, lol. She brought TONS and TONS of steak and chicken kabobs, grilled veggies, fruit, chips, desserts, drinks, etc. It was so fun! All the kids got to swim and we were ready to eat just as the rain hit late that afternoon. By then everyone was worn out and we were ready to come home. I got the kids in their jammies and we sat on our front porch in between rain showers while the neighbors put on a little mini-firework show for us.



Layla and Cale LOVE the fireworks...




Brynn... eh. She has just recently gotten really sensitive to sound. So, she and the fireworks were not the best of friends. She jumped EVERY SINGLE TIME. But when it was all over and done, she said- "Mommy, so pretty in sky!" :)