Both boys were ready to go on the 4th! (And so was Mommy.) I found an indoor parade at a nearby mall. WHAT A GREAT IDEA ON THE MALL'S PART! They handed out goody bags for the kids with some fun red, white, and blue beach balls, rings for girls, color books, etc., and a bunch of coupons for adults to use in the mall and at the eatery.
Augie and Anthony were both lookin' good and well prepared for the event!
BROTHERS!!! Ready for their first parade!!!
And . . . then we were off . . . a quick trip around the mall tooting our horn and enjoying the patriotic music played over the speakers. There were some fun crafts at the end, but we'll have to participate in those when the boys are a tad bit older.
And these are included for good measure - it wasn't all perfect and fun. They wanted NOTHING to do with the funny hat that Mommy brough along. (So, I ended up wearing it for the majority of the parade.) But the pictures were too funny to leave out!
And, finally, a picture with Uncle Sam to finish up our event!!!
It was a nice way to beat the heat!!!
And then . . . we ventured out after the heat had died down a little . . . to a really nice sub-division (if you can call it that - it's like a little town in sub-division walls - stores, lakes, rec centerS, people driving around in Hummer golf carts!). They were the closest place with fireworks - and we really wanted Augie to get to see them this year!
So, while the sun was still up, we enjoyed all that they offered for their 4th of July celebration!
A TEXAS COWBOY ON STILTS:
SNOW CONES! (We went for the coconut so that Augie could spill without staining, but the pump wasn't working - so BLUE Bubble Gum flavor it was!!!):
DANCING:
TO A LIVE BAND (That was pretty good!):
And then, we went back to the car to grab our blanket and set up a spot to watch the fireworks!!!
Upon reaching the car, we came to find out that we had left the head lights on and that we had a dead battery! :( Luckily, it wasn't dark or too over-crowded yet. So, we went ahead and got someone (one of the "guards" from a sub-division inside the sub-division) to help jump the car and let it run for awhile to regain its charge.
THEN WE SET UP TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS!!!
Augie with a little snow cone stain on the face.
Tony over-joyed at getting to stay up late (He already doesn't want to miss a thing - and I'm more than serious about that. We're in trouble!!!)
Quick family picture while the car battery charges and the sun sets!
Explaining that fireworks go BOOM to Augie! (Because his initial learning of the word BOOM came from us teaching him to give people fist bumps. Mommy uses a few too many sound affects - I hope I don't confuse the poor guy - there's a sound affect for almost everything we do!)
And - finally - FIREWORKS!!! (Augie LOVED them - and wasn't scared at all!)
GOD BLESS THE USA!!! AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SACRIFICE TO GIVE US THE FREEDOM THAT WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE AND CELEBRATE!!!
