Fourth of July

We had big plans for the fourth and we were all really excited about them! We started our day of fun with Audrey and Miss Heather at a neighborhood parade! The girls were all set in their festive attire!

Waiting for the parade to start!

 Hooray!  Hi parade!

 The fire truck had it's sirens on and was honking, Olive snuck behind Audrey a little.  I guess she knows Audrey will have her back! Ha!

 We were so excited to see our friends Anna and Campbell in their amazing decked out wagon!

 After the parade, we headed over to Pop's to swim for awhile.  But Olive started running a really high fever, so we headed home.  She slept for most of the afternoon and woke up with a fever.  We were sad to miss the cook out with our church friends, but didn't want to expose any other kiddos to whatever she might have.  We settled for hanging out at home for the evening and going to watch fireworks with just our little fam at our "usual spot".  

Oreos made her feel "much better"!

 Waiting for the fireworks with Daddy!

 Self portrait time, we are getting a little better at these! :)

 Silly faces!

I think I watched Olive more than I watched the fireworks!  Her reactions were priceless!  My favorite thing she said was "Oh! Dat one matches my fingernails!" Love her enthusiasm!

This is her reaction to the finale!

We had a great fourth despite the change of plans.  Hope your Independence Day was great too!

Third of July Party!

We were able to celebrate the Third of July with some really special friends! Pop offered to have the annual party at his house this year and it was a lot of fun.  We had a lot of friends sick and running fevers who weren't able to come and we really missed them!  Maybe next year everyone can make it! 

Ryder was our first friend to arrive and Olive showed him around. 

 Pop really went all out for the party to make sure it was perfect!

 Just a splishin' and a splashin'

 Then Avery noticed the diving board and started showing off her impressive jump skills!  Molly got in on the action too!

 Then all of the kiddos lined up for some jumping fun!  Sweet Anna couldn't jump fast enough!  Her smile never changed the whole time she was so excited!

 Olive showing her jumping skills.

 Ryder was content to play with the water guns instead of jump!

Olive took a little break to blow bubbles with Honey.

 Isn't this the greatest picture ever! Two little patriots! I think this should be a post card or something!

Sweet Griffin

 Campbell the sharp shooter

 Silly girls!  There is another girl in their class at school who apparently makes this face a lot.  Olive always says "Mommy, dis is what Lexi do-es"

Group picture attempts! 

Anna, Campbell, Audrey, Olive, Ryder, Molly, Avery

We are so glad so many friends got to come!  

Mica and I

 Me, Deanna and Anna

(the boy halves of their families were home sick, thankful they came anyways!)

 Mica, Honey and I

Family picture time!  I hate that I didn't get one of every family there, but here are a few. 

Mica and Isaac

 Our little family

 The Hales

 The McGehees

As it started to get dark, we busted out the sparklers.  These three were champs!

Taking a picture of Olive, Pop and Stephen is always difficult!  Here is the best one I got! 

Thanks Pop for all your hard work!  We had a great time and made some fun memories!  Happy Third of July!

Happy Birthday America!

Happy Birthday America!  I simply can not resist taking pictures of Olive in her fourth of July gear.  There is just something about a sweet little one wearing the colors of our country!

 We are so thankful for those men and women and their families who have sacrificed have sacrificed everything for the rest of us to be free!

And a little trip down memory lane...

Happy Birthday America!

A Cupcake and Candy Necklace Kind of Birthday

Last week was Aunt Mica's birthday, so we had a fun family dinner at Honey's to celebrate.  Olive had gotten the cutest "make your own candy necklace" kit at our sweet friend Eleanor's birthday over the weekend and decided that she wanted to make a necklace for Aunt Mica for her "burpday". She couldn't wait to give it to her!

 You can see Mica's pure excitement all over her face!

 She proudly put it on.  I have to give her major props because her actual birthday was on Thursday and when Olive and I went to take her to lunch, she was wearing the necklace! At work! 

 Little miss posing like a big girl...dying to get her hands on the cupcakes she made!

 Aunt Mica and Olive!  We laughed that this tiara looked like something off of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding!

 Helping blow out the candles...

Happy Birthday Mica!