The 4th

Our 4th of July started with our usual Sunday donuts, with a twist ...


Star-shaped iced donuts!

Most of the rest of the morning was spent doing a celebratory house cleaning.

We were invited to our neighbors' for a pool party, bar-b-que and fireworks show. I brought party potatoes, blue cheese bites, homemade cucumbers and onions and lemonade pie (thanks for the recipe, Dina!)

The kids swam ...






We ate ...


We did some fireworks ...








Brynne didn't care for the fireworks. She cried through most of it.


Here are some semi-family photos.



This was the best we could do. (Never did get Rick in one.) Kyndal spent the evening with her friend, Jenny. The older kids have gotten to an age that we let them choose what they want to do on their holidays. As long as they are having fun, I don't mind.

This was the first year in a long time that we didn't go back to my hometown for their 100+ year 4th of July celebration. There were many reasons we didn't go back this year. Honestly, it was nice not to have the hustle and bustle of it, with the traveling and praying for decent weather. But, I know the kids missed the tradition. Thankfully we'll get to see my family in a couple of weeks when we go back so the girls and I can go to the Justin Bieber concert with my sister and niece (no, I'm not excited ... but the girls are!)

We were very thankful to be invited by our neighbors to celebrate with them. It was a very laid back time, and we really enjoyed ourselves. Most of all, the kids had a *blast*!