4th of July

Our 4th of July started EARLY, with breakfast at the church building. We were late getting there, and then we got stuck in crazy traffic, so we got there just minutes before they were cleaning up. But that was all we needed.

After breakfast, we went to the Bellaire parade. It is just a few blocks north of the church and was the same one we went to last year. So fun!

Solace's first 4th of July! Yay! He got this cute red and blue starred onesie from Grandma Stacy. She also got the boys their red shirts. She got a pink one for Alexandra with a flag on it, but she didn't like it, so she didn't wear it. Oh well. Lullaby already had her outfit from Grandma Kim. Thanks Grandmas!

Summer and Lullaby made their own parade, up and down the street, while we waited. Remember that dress?

Once the parade finally started, it quickly became a candy fest. The kids were totally bored with the regular floats, but the ones that threw candy were HUNTED. Waiting in between the "good" floats was hard.

After the parade, we went to the firehouse for cookies and lemonade, just like last year. It was getting pretty hot, and we were all getting cranky, the kids especially.  Our group shot looks 1/2 sad. Lullaby was clinging to me because she was sad that I said no more candy. Hawken was tired and had already asked to take a nap a few times. Alexandra said she was, "the hottest I've ever been in my LIFE!"... After naps, everyone was happy again and ready to go to the beach!

The surf board and boogie boards were a hit, as usual, with Matix, our beach boy. It was Alexandra's first time surfing and she did great with the slow small waves on Surfside Beach.

We cooked dinner on the beach and splashed in the waves and played with our friends. It was a good day.  The Newells were there too, which always makes it more fun.

Solace looked like this most of the time... You have to love a sandy baby bum. Adorable.

Paul brought the slide, and although Mindy ended up carrying it to the beach AND back to our car, Paul thought it was worth the extra work to bring it... I think we could do without it. The kids loved it for a few minutes and then went back to all the other fun beach activities.

I love the sandy toes. Hawken didn't know he was posing for me. :)

As it was getting dark, we got out the sparklers for the kids. They were fun, but as it was getting darker, the mosquitos started coming out. Like swarms of thousands of mosquitos... Seriously. I should have taken a picture of the literally hundreds of bites each of us had. Lullaby and Stacy got it the worst. Anyway, these are the sparkler pictures before we went RUNNING off the beach.

No joke, this is what I looked like after battling the mosquitos that sneaked into the car with us on the drive home. Blood all over my face and hands. Gross. I just hope it was my blood on me...

Even with the mosquitos though, it was a good 4th of July. :) We are so grateful to live here and have all the freedoms and luxuries that we do.