July 05, 2011

Happy Birthday, America!

We had a fabulous 4th of July weekend! I know I have mentioned this before, but this is one of my favorite holidays. There is the obvious Christmas & Easter, but after those two is the 4th of July (yes, I like it more than Thanksgiving). So I'm big on festivities, even though the twins are still a little young for my favorite things (read: fireworks).

On the 3rd we went to the home of a former professor/current friend to watch the Great American Parade!
Giving a wave and hydrating pre-parade.
If you ask the twins about the parade they will tell you about the horses, the tractors, the big trucks (semis that WERE gigantic), and the CANDY! Mostly they will tell you about the candy. People walking up and handing them candy (even though it was almost all peppermints and bubble gum which they don't know yet that they can't have), wad a monumental experience for them.
Putting on the shades so as not to be easily recognized by adoring fans.
Shhhh! It's about to start!
Here they come!
We had a blast, and had hoped to stay, and play in the pool, but it the parade lasted so long that we ended up needing to leave for food and to be home for bedtime.

On the 4th we had a low-key morning. I did make sure to take them outside and get pictures in their patriotic outfits before doing ANYTHING else. A lesson I have learned over the years - if you want good pictures in special outfits, take the pictures right away!
She insisted on standing one step up to wave her flag...
Always waving the flag with extreme joy!
The only way to get a picture of the two of them together was to have them run!
Marching with their flags.
We told the twins we were celebrating our country's birthday. So we celebrated like we do all other birthdays - monkey bread for breakfast, a special cake, and many renditions of "Poppy's Song" ("Happy Birthday"...but we sang it - or tried to get them to sing it - so many times on Poppy's birthday that they assumed it was his song!)
In the evening, we went to a BBQ at our friend's. He got up at 3am to start smoking the most amazing brisket & ribs!
The kids enjoying their meals.
Ryan & Allie got to try the kool aid bottles for the first time. It was love at first taste. They downed these immediately and asked for more. Since it WAS a birthday, and birthdays tend to be total-fun-relax-on-all-rules days, I let the, have another. Those didn't last long either! They are SO my kids - no idea how to savor!
One of our friends has a 9 yr old daughter who was fabulous with all the kids. The collage made the pictures tiny, but here she is with 6 kids ages 2-4 on the trampoline. She had them walk in a circle (she is holding Ryan's hand because he kept walking - in a circle - the opposite directions of all the other kids and jamming the flow), sit down, and hold hands and walk in a circle. We all wanted to take her home!
Poor Ry-guy. Finally on a "bike" his size, but he doesn't know how to pedal because he can't reach them on his! It wasn't easy to Flinstone it on this one...
Allie helping out with a game of "Corn Hole." Whether they wanted it or not, everyone got a hole in one!
Ryan knew if he just stayed in the wagon, his persistence would pay off with a ride (he was right!)
Allie stealing cake from Heather.
E offered to give the twins a ride in the wagon. She actually did move them a few feet on her own!
We left when they brought out the sparklers (the twins clearly had no fear and no concept of getting burned, and we figured it would be best to go), but I snapped this picture of their friend A. Isn't she adorable!
After putting the kids to bed, Lucas and I watched the Boston 4th of July special. We reminisced about all the times we were there. We set a date to meet our friends there again in 15 years, but as I watched the show on tv, I knew I would need to be there before that. I love the holiday too much, and was spoiled by too many years celebrating it in the most amazing place possible (seriously, where else can you hear the Declaration of Independence read from the same balcony where it was originally read? Or participate in a reenactment of the famous Tax on Tea debate? Or run into Minute Men at Starbucks? Or listen to the Pops play the 1812 Overture - every single fabulous measure - live with a rousing fireworks display at the climactic end?), to not take my kids there again. Soon. In the next 5 years I think...

And because I was feeling reminiscent, look back here, here, and here to see pictures of the twinners (and cousin!) from previous celebrations.
Happy Birthday, America!!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wish you'd have been my Mommy!!! You make life such a joy, Kim. Such blessed kids! Thanks for sharing your 4th with us. Friend has the biggest most amazing fireworks, so uptown for a small town. Was a great end to a fun day here,too. Love and prayers, Grandma

Kim said...

Fun fact: The only holiday that has more posts on our blog (looking back since the beginning) is Christmas. THAT is how much I love this holiday!

Thanks, Grandma! Tell Grandpa there was a Minneapolis Moline in the parade and I told the twins to cheer extra loud and wave extra hard since that was like Grandpa's tractor! And Lucas was impressed that I could spot a MM from so far away (I know the colors, of course!!)

Anonymous said...

Looks like you guys had a great day and the kids also. What fun!! Did the kids see fireworks? I didn't think so cause it would be after their bedtime. I bet they'd like them. Hugs to all Nana.