Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue

We have had a fun few days celebrating the 4th of July!  We started our festivities on Thursday with Avery's camp at the Y.  The kids had a bike parade at a nearby nursing home then sang some patriotic songs for the residents and were treated to Popsicles.  We then had a picnic lunch back at the Y.  This is Avery's 2nd year doing this camp, and I think it's one of her favorites.

Our fun continued on Independence Day with a community picnic at the home of one of our church families, complete with rides on the fire truck.  Sam decided to pass this year, so I know Ned will soon be working hard to acclimate him with the trucks.  Avery, however, went twice.

 

After the fire truck rides was a short program {that my two had no patience for} and then a hot dog lunch.  Lunch is much later than our usual time so we had some happy and grumpy faces in the mix.

 

 

We rested after lunch then packed up lots of yummy food for our trip to Newsoms.  We enjoyed the annual parade, one of only a few that you get to see twice.  Avery collected candy and Sam tried to eat it.

We then had a cookout at Yaya and Poppa's and let the kids play for a bit.

The 4th of July is one of my most-favorite holidays and has been for a long time.  My earliest ones were  spent in Newsoms at my best friend's house, where there was a community cook-out, games, and a fireworks show on the railroad tracks put on by Carrie's dad.  I pray that Avery and Sam will always remember our family 4th of July traditions and remember all the fun we had.