Independence Weekend

We had a great holiday weekend!  The girls were so well behaved (besides one knock out fight) and had so much fun!

Our celebrations started on Saturday.  The girls enjoyed some pool time in the morning.

That evening, we headed to Garrett for a talent show in the park.  Jaden loved watching all of the kids perform.  We also had some ice cream because 1. There were no funnel cakes (what?!) and, 2. You can't celebrate America's independence without ice cream!

 

Then we went back to Gramma J and Grampa Max's so the girls could check on the tomato plants they helped Gramps plant earlier in the season.

After that, it was Pizza Hut for supper and home to bed!

On Sunday, the girls and I went to Garrett again to watch the parade.  We took picnic Lunchables for supper and prepared for the candy grabbing!

 

Oh how I miss marching with the band in parades!

On Monday, we went back to Garrett (don't you think we should just move there?) for a cook-out at Cindy and Steve's. 

We got to love on baby Raegan...

 

She is such a cutie!  It was kind of nice to love on the baby and then hand her back to momma.  Miss Raegan is the first baby in our family that is not mine :o)  I can't wait until she is up running around with my girls!

Then, we had our annual July 4th visit with the Loomis kids!

We added baby Owen to our photo shoot this summer!  He is a little sweetheart!  His big sis was so proud of him :o)  As usual, the yearly photo shoot went... um... well!

It's always fun to look back on the photos of the past years.  These kiddos are getting so big!
Here are the photos from 2007, 2008, and 2010.  2009 got lost some and apparently never made it to the blog?

Then, it was more chill time and playing before the fireworks!

Taylor Max found a boyfriend :o)  Good thing Mom was there to capture the first date moments!

We also got to take a dip in Cindy and Steve's pool!  It felt really nice on such a hot day!

Also, Jaden noticed that Trenton had, "hair under his shoulders."  She is such a crack-up!

We went back to the park to jump, pick a duck, and add to our princessware...

 

Then, it was back to Cindy's to watch the fireworks!

It was a great weekend!  We all had so much fun and were exhausted when it was all over :o)

Baby, you're a firework!

As I'm sure most of you do, I have Monday off work for the 4th of July.  I am looking forward to hanging out with my girlies, my BFF, and her son.  Our guys are going to a party with beer and cuss words.  We have the day perfectly planned out and are heading to a cookout after the kiddos take a nap.  I'm sure it will be a great day and we will have lots of fun!  My only beef: It's a MONDAY.  Yes, we do get the day off of work, but we also have to go in the next day.  I really don't have a problem doing that, but my girls?  Yeah, they will be bears the next morning!  It is hard enough getting everyone up and out the door on time when they are in bed by 8:00.  How on earth am I supposed to wake them from their hibernation and be out the door by 6:55 in the morning if they don't even get into bed until closer to 11?  Coincidentally, my PTO days are renewed on July 1st.  Would it be horrible for me to take some time on Tuesday morning to let my kids sleep? 

This kind of falls along the same lines as the Superbowl.  There was a lot of debate on whether or not it was ok for parents to let their kids stay home from school on the Monday following the Superbowl.  In this instance, I say no.  I think it is a little different (maybe) because I don't have boys, but if I can remember correctly, my brother and I never got "personal days" when we were in school.  We were expected to go to school unless we were ill.  Oh, and I did go to work on the Monday after the Superbowl.

So, what do you think?  Are there any other moms out there that are calling in on Tuesday morning due to cranky kids?  Am I in the wrong or do you totally agree?