Happy 4th of July

I have to go back and fill you in on the 3rd before we give highlights on the 4th.
Abigail & Gma DeeDee

Isaac's new facial expression...

I am so proud of the job we did finishing the play structure in Grandma and Papa's backyard. It took 4 days of working on it (2 with hubby as a team and 2 by myself...with gma and papa helping hold things here and there). If I do say so myself, I impressed myself with my ability to work with power tools. I'm a handy woman. Anyway, when it was done, Isaac loved playing with the "park." We raced each other down the slides. Isaac kept saying, "Mommy, you go on this one...say 'ready, set go.' " He also loves the tire swing. He got on in all by himself. If you don't know his personality, he is a talker and not a doer...and he is very timid with anything new. He's more likely to give me a short lesson on all the types of vehicles that use tires, what color they are, and how they have tread than he'd likely try to climb on it...especially if it is swinging from chains. So, for him to successfully climb on the tire swing, it was very impressive to me. Here are pics and video of the "park" in Grandma's backyard.





Now "Happy 4th of July!!!" Though we filled our day with the typical 4th events...parade, BBQ, fireworks, and wearing red, white & blue, we cannot help but stop and thank God for how truly blessed we are to live in this country and have the freedom to worship Christ without the fear of being put to death (as in a lot of other countries). Both Chris and I come from families where relatives have served our country. We also have dear friends that have recently served and were willing to sacrifice their own lives for us at home...going about our normal, daily routine. It is a reminder of those who are still in uniform as I type this...Please remember to pray for our troops. The Bible says:

1. John 15:13
   Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
   
2. 1 John 3:16
   This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
3. John 10:11
   "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Let us not forget why we have a day off...

So, here is what we did today:
We walked to the parade with some neighbors (Isaac wants me to mention Kian, Summer & Johnny). Chris and I went to Home Depot the night before and got stakes to block off our spot for the parade...and it was actually there when we arrived (we thought someone would take it because it was so crowded at the parade). It was so fun!!! The weather was perfect temp (aside from the fact that it rained during our whole walk home). Even though we went last year, this year was so much better because we went with friends and Isaac was so excited about everything this year. He loved being with his friends, running into the street to get candy (he was allergic to and couldn't eat), waving to all the people going by and seeing all the bands, tractors, fire trucks, police motorcycles, and anything that had an airplane on it. One of the last floats was Trader Joe's, so Isaac was able to eat his very FIRST lolly-pop...he was very excited.

Balloon Airplanes (mentioned later)
Very first lolly-pop

Johnny (just a few weeks older that Isaac)...If you see the video with Johnny, you'll notice that he is playing air guitar while watching the band go by...he's Isaac best buddy.

Abigail & Kayla (6 months)
Kian (4yrs)


Summer (just over 1 year)

After all that fun, we went to Grandma DeeDee's and Papa's house with our friends Steve, Christina, Alora & Elijah. We could not have had a better time. The older kids are at an age where they play very well together. Alora & Isaac had so much fun stamping, playing in gma's "park," riding bikes together, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and having a picnic together on the grass (thanks to Papa who made ribs and potato salad). The babies were so good all day too (Grandma DeeDee helped see to that). It was the perfect combo of fun and rest. It is such a praise to have family nearby.
Cousin Elijah (8 months)

Cousin Alora

Abigail & Daddy

Eating blueberries with Papa

Drawing with Grandma DeeDee

Aunt Christina

Chistina and I have been friends since 7th grade so it is fun to be together as adults and have our kiddos grow up together. We had some good laughs around the table taking about all the things we got ourselves in to as teens. It's nice for my parents to see that all their hard work paid off with us (I'm sure they had their doubts at certain times when I was younger and pretty rotten). All glory be to Christ who came in and changed my heart and continues to change my life to be more and more like Him.

Back from the rabbit trail...After BBQ, we lit fireworks, and Isaac LOVED them. He couldn't get enough! He kept saying, "Again! Another one!" On the drive home from Gma & Papa's, Isaac was enthusiastically thanking God for everything that happened that day. It sounded a bit like this: "Thank you God for...Summer...and...Kian....and Alora...and Johnny...and tractors...and...real firetrucks...and Uncle Steve...and...lolly-pops...and Papa...and balloon airplanes...and fireworks...and...um, Aunt Christina...and ribs...and...Johnnny eating lolly-pops too...and eaing corn on the cob with Alora...and green fireworks...and yellow fireworks too...and Grandma...and Isaac eating lolly-pops...and loud fireworks...

Just when we thought the day was over (and you thought this HUGE BLOG ENTRY was over), Isaac and Daddy had more fun. After arriving home and putting baby girl to bed, Isaac went with Daddy to the community park and watch all the neighbors do fireworks. Chris told me that Isaac sat on his lap, drinking his milk and watched the fireworks in awe. He would take a sip of milk and then hand to to Chris (in order to have free hands to clap at the display) and say, "Daddy hold milk...look Isaac clapping for fireworks." He finally went to bed at 10:30 or so and slept in this morning.

What a FUN day!!!!!!