4th of July

 

Way back with the rest of America, we celebrated our country's birthday on the 4th of July. Just now getting around to blogging, so here you go! We started our star spangled weekend on Friday....

 I saw that a friend had done this with her child and totally stole the idea. I used a foot for Jensen's and it is proudly displayed in his bedroom. Then there is Eva's wonderful handprint flag...let me share the backstory :) I showed her a photo of what it should look like - both the actual flag and what we were going for. I explained to her the steps to make it look like that. She insisted on doing it all by herself. She ended up with a great "collaboration" of red and blue all over the board. She asked me how it looked so I set aside my need to control her supposed-to-be-a-keepsake craft and said, "I can tell you liked using the patriotic red and blue paint to celebrate the 4th of July!" Y'all. It took everything in me to not want to correct her, to just let it be her thing. Then all on her own she said, "Hmm...I don't think it turned out how I was thinking. Can I try again?" And then Miss All.By.Herself. figured out how to do it. It was a win-win for both mama and her little artist.

Then while Jensen napped and Ryan mowed we did patriotic mani-pedis. One of the perks of having a little diva.

Later we hit up the pool. Jensen used his baby float for the first time. I guess Eva was about 8 months when she started using it so he is still kind of small and needs us to help hold him to use it. He isn't the biggest fan but will tolerate it for a little bit.

What is July 4th without a flag cake? I have been dreaming of flag cakes for years and never got around to actually making one. Mine is the version you create when you are baking with an enthusiastic three year old sous chef. She loved coloring the inside red and blue and making the flag out of sprinkles. And it tasted great!

Friday night we had our friends Brooke and Matt over and grilled out before sharing our delicious cake. 

Then it was off to see some fireworks. Eva got to do her first sparkler this year....also Eva got burned by her first sparkler this year.

I figured Jensen would just crash before the fireworks started, because Jensen can sleep anywhere through anything, but he was actually awake and watching everything.

On to the big day! Eva has worn the same dress every year for the 4th. I posted this on my instagram but it's too wonderful not to add in here as well. How do the years pass by so quickly? I miss that baby girl.

Saturday morning we rode in the Trophy Club parade. Our church bought an old bus the week before and the youth group decorated it for the parade. Eva was very excited to get to ride on a bus.

We also saw our cheerleader friends at the parade! Is it football season yet?!

Towards the end Eva decided she wanted to help Ryan and the crew passing out cold waters to everybody along the route.

The Trophy Club splash pad and pool always had free admission on July 4th so we went and played there for a few hours. Of course my babies were in their coordinating patriotic swimwear, but sadly this is the best photo I could get.

This one makes up for it! That evening we went to the Trophy Club celebration. They had bounce houses, fireworks, and lots more so we enjoyed an evening outdoors. {This photo is no optical illusion...my four month old really is that size compared to my almost four year old.}

My handsome men. Jensen mostly looks like me but here he looks a bit like his Daddy.

My beautiful firecracker-of-a-girl daughter. It was truly one of the best 4th of July's I can remember. Thankful for all the freedoms we are blessed to have and for the brave soldiers who defend them!