Fourth of July Fun

The Fourth is one of the funnest holidays because we spend most of the day doing fun things and doing those fun things with family. Every year (except when prego) I run the 5K (this year's time was 29:42...not bad for being out of shape and taking it easy after having an injury). After the run we watch the parade with Mark's family.

Piper had a great time at the parade.
Grandma would take Piper closer every time a marching band came by. She loved the music.
Téa spent most of her time on the curb to get a closer view.
Here's the gang...at least some of them. My mom was in town and came with us this year. She got lucky. This year was perfect weather. It even rained just before the parade started and stayed fairly cool the rest of the morning.

After the parade we headed to our house for lunch. Mark's mom was able to get all five of her kids together (at least for a few minutes) and she was in heaven. After lunch all the cousins got into their swim suits and went in the kiddie pool or on the slip-n-slide or launched soda bottle rockets. The rocket launcher was by far the best entertainment.

I wish I would have taken more pictures of Calista and 'the boys'. Whenever we get together with family now Calista loves to hang out with Josh and Peter. Maybe it's because she realizes that Josh is leaving in a few weeks on a mission so she's trying to get as much time with him as possible. During lunch I found Calista eating lunch with the boys. And I have to tell you it's the cutest thing to watch my nephews playing with little Calista. They put up with her bossyness very well.

Josh, Calista and Peter.
Piper enjoyed the water slide too.
Piper and Calista.
After lunch and water games Leslie's and Jeff's family headed to save spots to watch fireworks at Thanksgiving Point. Since Piper is so not fun when she stays up late we stayed home with Leah's family and hung out until it got dark enough to do our own fireworks. George and Leah brought some fireworks and the girls had so much fun doing them with their cousins Hannah, Patrick and Daphne.

Calista insisted on doing the night's events in her dress ups.
Téa had fun doing the sparklers.

Téa kept telling me this was her first year doing fireworks. I guess we've been horrible parents her whole life. We hardly ever let our kids stay up late. It's just not worth it the next day. This year they were actually pretty good the next day. Maybe next year we will have to give the big fireworks show a try with the rest of the family.