The 4th!

All decked out in red, white, and blue, and waiting for Corbett parade to start.  This was our second year going, and we—especially our girls, love it!

My cute people.

Georgia and her favorite person.

Funny story about the picture on the right of Hattie waving:  part way through the parade Elna whispered into Hattie’s ear “the reason you’re not getting a lot of candy is because you’re not waving and smiling.”  NOT because she was standing next to Elna who was a little more aggressive than she was at getting candy.  Ha!

I love America!  And this cute family of mine!

Happy girls walking back to the car with their bags filled!

Brian’s tradition with the girls is to walk to Dairy Queen for lunch and then pick up fireworks and raspberries from nearby stands.

Georgia woke up from her nap early, so I surprised them by walking down to meet them.

We ate raspberries on the grass near DQ.

Happy as long as she had raspberries.

Harriet’s favorite song is #10 on the CD we most often listen to in our car—it’s main chorus says “My little darling is a firecracker” (by Josh Turner)  It really is so appropriate for her.  She’s hilarious and spunky.  Today out of nowhere, she said “I am seventeen going on nineteen, Mom.”  And several times a day she stops me in my tracks with “Mom, (then she pauses for a couple seconds, until she really knows I’m paying attention) I love you!”  Also, this outfit had us laughing all day—I couldn’t find any patriotic clothes in her size, so she wore a 24 month outfit (she usually wears 4T) that fit Georgia.

Helpful Elna carrying the fireworks.

Walking home.

Brian saw this patriotic cake on Facebook and decided to make it with the girls.  He is the more fun parent, for sure.

We sang happy birthday to America.

And then the fireworks—we really thought we would let the girls stay up until it was dark this year…but when it came down to it, that seemed like a long time.  As it was, we did it a couple of hours past their bedtime—it just takes forever to get dark in the summer.

Throwing pop-its on the ground.  I love love love Elna’s face in the picture on the right!  Serious business.

Look at that happy Georgia!

Elna was really brave this year, and loved every part of the fireworks.

Harriet, not so much.  For being such a firecracker, she certainly didn’t like them very much.  Ears AND eyes covered.  Ha!

We love living near Brian’s parents, but it’s especially nice on holidays—to be able to spend it with family.  Happy fourth!