4th of July 2015

4th of July 2013:

4th of July 2014:

4th of July 2015:

Time flies!

This 4th of July, for the second year in a row, we joined the Wright family and watched the local parade together. It was short and sweet– 20 mins of fire engines, people riding bikes and scooters, a few DIY floats, and lots of kids throwing candy. In short, perfect for the attention spans of Samantha, Amelia, Maliyah and Allie.

Oh say can you seeeeeeeeeeee!

Amelia 2013 and 2014:

Samantha enjoyed waving her flag with gusto!

Samantha 2013 and 2014:

Proud to be an American.

Let’s get this party started!

The All-American Cutie Pies. 

Watching the parade, 2014. Can’t believe we forgot the tattoos this year!

You promised people throwing candy!

Amelia was intense about waving to the people throwing candy and then running into the street to grab some before she got trampled by bicycling patriots.

Allie wanted in on the fun!

Samantha was very nonchalant about the whole thing. She somehow bribed Amelia to run out into the street for her and grab candy so that she could sit back in her chair and relax.

After the parade, we played at the park with Maliyah and Allie and then we all went home for a nice nap. When the girls woke up, it was time to hit our neighborhood toddler block party, hosted by Amy! Amy and Jim brought out their bbq into the front and we all enjoyed grilling and sharing each other’s side dishes.

Amy had two coolers of water balloons that disappeared in 45 seconds flat.

Squishy.

Splat. 

Water table fun. 

Ms. Phi brought over Parker’s bounce house which was a huge hit!

Get all that energy out, Amelia!

Between water balloons, the water table, and bbq sauce everywhere, almost all the kids had to change into their back-up outfits. Bubble time!

Putting on their cutest faces in exchange for a piece of cake. 

Everyone cracked up at Samantha and Amelia’s expressions once they received cake– they looked awe struck. Is this ok, mom? Can this really be happening? 

Samantha didn’t even know where to start!

Amelia savored every bite!

Back to Samantha.

Parker asked me to take several pictures of himself with the girls and then “text them to him.”

These kids! We were hopeful Samantha and Amelia would make it late enough to see some fireworks, but just like the past two years, they snoozed through the whole thing!

Snoozing through the fireworks at the Marriott, San Diego in 2013:

Even though many other of the kids also conked out before fireworks, we adults stuck around to pump up the 90s playlist Amy had going, monitors in hand. Our attempts at cleaning up the food somehow erupted into an impromptu nerf gun fight, boys vs. girls with the adults and the kids who were still awake. That’s how we moms and dads party around here!

Maybe next year the girls will stay up late enough to join in!

Lots of love,