We were all so excited for the cousins to come up from Missouri for our weekend celebrations. When Chet found out that Terron's birthday had been a few days before, he made him this birthday banner. Austin made the shooting star that is taped to the window.
Early Friday morning Tanner and our neighbor Tyler poured cement for our new basketball hoop. The kids were outside all day long. We set up a slip and slide and the sprinklers in the afternoon for the kids to play in.
These toddlers are the best. They had to get in their swim suits so they could relax in these lawn chairs and stay completely dry.
The next morning the girls decided to set up a nail salon and paint their finger and toenails red and blue. Not one to be left out of anything, Chet decided it was only fair if the boys got their faces painted. And he was finally persuaded that the world was still just if the girls had their faces done too.
Tanner built a massive swing set and the kids played on it all throughout the day.
We made a huge slip and slide the next day and the kids had a blast. Tanner, Baydon and I even jumped in on the action. I was reminded of my age when I could feel it the next day in my neck and back. But it was still worth it.
On the Fourth we had Egg rolls and stir fry for lunch, and Tacos for dinner, followed by a Tres Leches American Flag Cake. It was delicious and we still felt it represented the United States well. It is a melting pot after all. I've decided I want to start doing the flag cake because it brings back so many memories of Fourth of July as a child. My mom would make one every year for my Grandma's Fourth of July birthday. Tanner inspired the Tres Leches flavor and we used fresh raspberries and blueberries.
After dinner we walked around the Welcome Home Soldier Monument. The kids had fun ringing the bell and looking at the state flags. As we were leaving, a woman was gathering the flags and all the kids rushed to help her clean them up.
We talked about the Star Spangled Banner and the story of its creation. Then we sang all the verses and it was so fun to watch all those kids sing with such gusto.
That night the kids got to stay up late for fire works. Sparklers with 11 kids is not for the faint of heart. But they had fun.
We ended the weekend Sunday night with amazing fireworks at the Havard's house. They set up their fireworks to go off right over their pond and it was awesome.
While we were all a little grumpy Monday morning from lack of sleep and mosquito and chigger bites, there were no regrets. I'm so grateful for this country we call home. God bless the USA!
