4th of July Overload

I loved being home for the 4th of July. Loved. It. Normally we are at the beach over the 4th and although it's great being at the beach I realized this year just how awesome the 4th of July can be. And it was a jammed packed weekend. Which are always the best kinds of weekends to have! So here is 4th of July picture over load!

We started out Saturday morning meeting my grandma, a few cousins, and aunt and uncle bright and early for a parade in their little town. Same parade that I marched in when I was little. Soph will tell you that the best thing about this parade is the entire bag full of candy you can collect.

Here's me and my girl pre-parade.

One of the many many trips to the middle of the road to pick up extra candy. They let ANYONE be in this parade. You basically just show up with a car, a bike, a tractor or even a horse and they'll let you in. She's already said that next year she can ride in papaw Rocky's tractor and throw candy. We'll see.

I think every parent in America could nab a picture of their kid like this when the fire trucks roll through!

Saturday evening we headed over to another little town for fireworks. We had a few options for fireworks but decided that smaller and less hectic seemed like the route to go since our day had already been busy. Hopefully, we'll be able to do this every year. It was fun to kiddie tailgate before the fireworks started.

At the fireworks we met up with the Taylors. And here is Soph, Ben, and Owen.

And the Markins' family!

On Sunday Katie invited us all to a fabulous cookout and afternoon of swimming. Last year we did the same thing. And we can all remember last year saying that one day we'll be able just to set along the edge of the pool and watch our kids swim. This year, for at least half of us that little wish came true!

This crew can swim! Although they look like drowning cats doing it!

Pool "bums"

Jackson is never far from his blackberry.

Charles' swim proteges. Oh how I wish I had a video of Sophie and Emma coming up for a "breath." Funniest thing evah! I can't even explain it. Just one of those things you'd have to see for yourself.