happy 4th!

We had a great 4th! I hope you did too!

We stayed home, Lance grilled, Mimi and Pop came over, and the littles splashed to their hearts content in the kiddie pool - fun times all the way around!  Of course I couldn't let a holiday go by without at least setting up a fun little tablescape!

Attempts at family pics...

While Lance was busy making all of this...
{yum, yum}

I sent the littles to Hudson's room with "homework" so I could set the table.  I gave Grace a little clipboard and a pencil and asked her to think of 6 things she's grateful for about living in this great country.  Same for Hudson but just 4...since he's four.  I want them to think beyond the parties and festivities of each holiday to the real reason we celebrate in the first place.  I then hid them at each place setting and after we blessed the food, Grace read their lists.

"Clows" would be clothes and "Natre" is nature :)

Ready for the big reveal - he he he.

Be still my heart...

What makes it all worthwhile for me...look at their sweet expressions of joy!

 

They wanted to check out their surprises right away...of course there was the usual, "Hey, I wanted to open that one!"

An official march around the room...

A sweet blessing of thanksgiving for our nation and then it was time to read their lists...

A little someone was all about the SWEETS!

And this little pumpkin was all about the CHERRIES!!

Time to dig in!

Full bellies!

A quick little switcheroo and they were ready for the pool!

"No, Hudson, you're supposed to do it like this!"
"I.don't.want.to!"
{siblings!}

Yay, it's Mimi and Pop!!

Time for masterpieces...

Lots of SLidINg...

...and SpLAsHiNG!!

And oh my, the pOsiNG!!

But these sMiLEs made it all worthwhile!

These yUMmY tREaTs were the perfect ending to our day!

I even got to finish and deliver this fun tank to a friend! My first time making one for a grown-up!

I hope you had a great day{weekend} celebrating with loved ones...

...and making memories for years to come!

Happy 4th!
 

God Bless America!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ~Hebrews 13:8

THANK YOU to all the men and women who protect our country and our freedom...One nation under God...each and every day, especially those who have given their lives so that we may live and enjoy ours.
 
Happy Independence Day {2013}!

Stingrays!!

There's something about the 4th of July that gets me all excited. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing all the red, white and blue!   So we may just see how many days we can go with wearing red/white/blue - ha! And don't for a second think it's all superficial either. I'm beyond grateful to all the men and women who sacrifice so much to ensure our freedom.

I escaped today at lunch to join Noonie and the littles so we could check out some stingrays!!

Noonie sent me these next two pics while they were waiting on me to get there...sooooo excited!!

I think this one is part RACOON!  hahahahaha

LOOK!  They're KISSING mama!!!!
{check out all the bling-bling she insisted on wearing "after all, we're going to visit the stingrays"...he he he}

The little pumpkin could not wait to touch them!!

They're kind of soft but a little bumpy in the middle...

Meanwhile, this was as close to the stingrays as Hudson was interested in getting...

But after much convincing, he FINALLY touched one!!  Yay!

These little stingrays got a lot of lovin' from the little pumpkin today! :)

That was FUN!
{big boy haircut alert! - thanks Mimi!}

Checking out the horseshoe crab with Noonie!

This was BY FAR the BEST lunch break I've had in a loooooooooooooong time!!

ThANk yOU to my friend DeAnn who made this possible!! :)