Fourth of July

I’m confident that this Fourth of July was our best Fourth of July ever! Or, at the very least, it certainly topped last year’s Fourth of July celebration– which, for the last year has been called “The Day Of Missed Fun” by Miss Abigail.

So, Jim was traveling back from a week long business trip to London and was supposed to arrive home late on the night of the 3rd. But, thanks to just about everything possible going wrong, his flight was delayed, and then delayed some more, and then canceled. Then his flight the following morning was delayed again.

Our new neighborhood does this awesome Fourth of July celebration every year(this year was the 52nd year!) which starts with a kids bike parade that starts at our next door neighbors house and ends down the street at a little clearing where they have tents set up with food and drinks, music, and have a few special ceremonies to commemorate the holiday. It’s really cool!

I got the girls all decked out in their holiday best(thanks, Grammy!) and made sure to take way too many pictures of the cuteness.

Mabel was 100% obsessed with these headbands. She literally wore hers the entire day. She never wanted to take it off. Hilarious.

We had planned on Jim getting to go with us, but the girls and I had to attend the event solo. Navigating a bike parade with a 5 year old, a baby in a stroller, a plate of food to take to the tent, and a camera to try and get pictures with was interesting for sure- but somehow I managed!

Grammy helped Abigail decorate her bike for the parade and I’m not saying that it was the best bike in the parade(but it was definitely the best bike in the parade.)

Grammy and Pappy had gone to Kansas City for a few days to visit my brother, so they missed out on the parade, but the girls, our stroller, and Abigail’s bicycle wouldn’t have looked nearly as amazing without Grammy!

The turn out for this thing was huge. It was so cool. We were so excited to get to take part in our very first neighborhood celebration and we hope it is the start of many more to come!

And just as the party was winding down, looked who showed up!

After three hours in a hotel before having to get up again, flying to a new airport, getting a rental car, and driving an hour and a half to the airport where his car was parked, driving home and then walking down the street to us- this guy FINALLY made it! What an ordeal.

We couldn’t have been happier to see him and have him home! Now we could finally start celebrating!

This year was SO much fun with Abigail! She shopped for fireworks with Jim and was a pro at lighting them. She was a little hesitant every now and then, but overall she was so brave and did amazing.

Oh yeah- at the party Abigail had a small bike wreck and skinned both of her knees. It was sad but she recovered quickly and had some pretty cool band-aids to show for it.

After a family afternoon nap, Grammy and Pappy made it back to us and the party continued!

Look how excited this guy is to be home with his girlies! I love it.

Reunited and it feels so good!

If this picture doesn’t sum up a fantastic Fourth I don’t know what would!

Mabel went to sleep at her usual time and stayed asleep all night- bless!

Once it got dark we lit up a few fireworks of our own and then ALL around our neighborhood fireworks were going off everywhere. EVERYWHERE!

I’m confident that you can’t beat the Fourth of July in Missouri! Amazing fireworks in every direction- you don’t even have to leave your house! It is so cool.

Anyway, after showers to wash off the day, we all went to bed happy and so, so thankful to get to live in this amazing country.

I hope your 4th was just as wonderful!