Firecracker, Firecracker, Boom, Boom, Boom

I'm warning you now, LOTS of pictures are to follow.
And I didn't even take out my camera until about 7 pm.
Imagine what this post would look like if that weren't the case?
We started off our 4th celebration by heading next door to our neighbor Shelly & Reed's house for pool and bounce house time.  We only stayed until about 5 and then headed to my sis's house.

We ate a lot and mainly just hung out and watched the kids have fun.
I can't tell you how much I love that the kids have so many cousins their age.
It is such a blessing, especially since I never grew up with any close cousins.
It makes my heart happy every time I see them all together.
Thanks Tina and John and Carrie and Al (and their respective spouses) for populating this world with your broods.  My kids love your kids and that is awesome.

Syd was obsessed with this battery powered ride-on toy

Notice the ear plugs?  Genius idea on Art's part.  Syd has been extremely sensitive to noises lately and we knew the 4th was going to be a challenge.  So on our way out the door he grabbed these for him.  The ironic part was that these are my ear plugs that Art bought for me when Syd was a newborn.  I used them for those middle of the night "breaks" I was supposed to be getting when Art would take a night feeding, yet I could still hear him scream.  Ah, the irony of it all.

I love that every single child has some sort of food remnants on their faces, and no grown ups thought to clean it off the entire time.  And yes, these girls love each other a lot.  Hugs all night long.

Playing chase on the lawn of a neighbor and getting caught by Papa

And as the sun set, the fireworks began

Ooohhhs and Aaaahhhs

I was nervous about the sparklers, but when I saw how tame these are compared to the ones we had as a kid, I knew I had to let mine partake in this right of passage

I'm still a little freaked out though at how calm Syd was handling fire

We had lots of fireworks to look at

Between our own "Safe and Sane" box

The huge show 2 blocks over at the park

And the neighbor's illegal bunch across the street

There was never a dull moment

We got home at almost 11 pm

Syd and Taylor are still asleep at 9 am

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th

And what a treat, today is another national holiday and we have Art home with us

I'm putting him to work in the garage though

I better go and crack that whip

Happy Day Everyone!