4th of July

We had a laid back 4th of July this year.  Nothing real big, just a few fun, small gatherings.  July 3rd we went to Kiefer to watch the fireworks display and I was so happy it was on one of Brad's days off so he could go with us.  We went with our dear friends the Voises.  Our girls are just 3 days apart and love each other so much. Alex loves hanging out with them, too, and they have a new baby, which both the kids think is the best and can't get enough of!  They are so obsessed with babies right now.  Good thing! :)

We found a place in the park to set our blankets and chairs, and hung out for a few hours before the show started.  There is a gazebo with music and a live band, there are two small playgrounds and some swings, and a little playhouse set up for the kids.  It was really crowded this year. There didn't seem to be as much room to run around, but it was fine.  In fact, all the kids spent most of the evening with the adults on the blanket.  It was beautiful weather, not hot at all, and once the sun went down, it actually got a bit chilly.

This fireworks display was one of the best I've seen.  They shoot them off so close to where you are sitting; maybe 100 yards.  Abby thought they were too loud, but she enjoyed watching them, and Alex thought it was awesome.  Check out his face!

It was an incredible show and lasted maybe 40 minutes.  The only hard part about the evening was getting out of our parking spot.  We sat in the car for about an hour before we were actually on the road.  There were that many people!  They close the highway and only let cars go in one direction, so you can imagine 11-12,000 people all trying to leave at once.  Chaos!

The next day, on the actual 4th, we went to a pool party at the Fernandos.  They have the best pool and are the most gracious hosts.  It is always such a wonderful time when we go to their house, and we are so thankful for all their hospitality.  Alex learned a new trick at Big Splash earlier in the week, and did it all day in the pool.  He loves doing cannonballs!

We spent all day over there, and while we were invited to join everyone at the fireworks show that evening, we had to call it a day.  The kids were exhausted from being out till 11:30 the night before and then from swimming all day.  They wouldn't have made it!  

The next day we continued our celebration over at my dad's house.  My brother and his family came, too, so my kids were excited.  They love playing with their cousins.  My little water babies got another full day in the sun and the pool and loved every second of it.  

We had some awesome food over at my dad's, as always.  I've always said that my favorite place to eat in all of Tulsa is his house.  He cooked an amazing ham, had his award winning potato salad, a giant fruit salad, and cocktail shrimp.  My brother added some pretty good hot dogs to the mix, too.  I'm a little worried about how much we are going to have to feed Alex in the future.  He ate so much!  He had two big plates of ham and fruit, a plate of shrimp, and 2 hot dogs before he got back in the pool.  Then he got out and ate two adult portions of fruit salad along with some chips.  When we were leaving he and John each grabbed a chunk of ham.  I seriously looked at Alex and thought someone had made him a sandwich, that's how big his piece of ham was!  He is going to be an eater in a few years!  I can't imagine him as a teenager!  My dad joked that when the kids are older we are going to have to buy 3 hams for dinner; one for Alex, one for John, and one for the rest of us!  Ha!  It's probably not far from the truth!  

Happy 4th!