Party in the USA!

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the music. I love the food. I love the warm weather, and I love the low stress. Because it fell on a Sunday this year, we celebrated ALL weekend long!

FRIDAY

Dan started the day of with a dirtbike ride, I went to lunch with some girls I used to work with, then we came home, gathered the kids, and headed out to Manitou Springs. We hit the new Rudy's BBQ with the Lovejoys {the meats and banana pudding are great - but steer clear of all of the bland sides}.

After dinner, we headed to the outdoor penny arcade. {not exactly sure why they call it a 'penny' arcarde} but it was so much fun!
SATURDAY

Our ward threw a GREAT Family Fourth party. I think the Primary leaders planned most of it, and they did a fabulous job! There was a pancake breakfast complete with fresh fruit & cool whip toppings, followed by the Kids' Parade, waterslide, outdoor games & races, and a big fat waterfight that Dan ended up in the middle of {of course!}.

Later, Dan went shooting with Peter L., then came home to join us for some pool time. We met up with some new neighbor friends there, and just had a nice evening getting to know them. The girls are instant friends.

McKenna, Bella, Azure, Kyla

SUNDAY

We went to church decked out in red, white & blue, went to Grammy's house for the classic roast & potatoes dinner {delish!} and then headed up north with Dan's family to get a good view of both the Flying Horse and AFA fireworks shows.

MONDAY
The celebrating continued, since everyone had the day off work.

Woo-hoo! We had Grammy & Grandpa, Megan & Carter, Emily, Kacey & kids, and the Lovejoy family over for a BBQ, games, and s'mores. Oh my lands. We had such a good time! Everyone brought lots of food, we played badminton, ladder ball, and bocce ball, while the kids jumped on the trampoline, played on the swingset, and got completely muddy in the dirt pile behind our house. Funny how with all of the fun things we had set up to do, the kids' favorite thing was playing in the dirt. Go figure!

Who doesn't love a good s'more? Apparently Carter. He's NEVER had one. Not ever. We tried, but couldn't convince him to attempt it tonight - but we all had at least 2 or 3 - and enjoyed every ooey-gooey bite!

Thank Heavens for the Fourth of July, For our Freedom, For our Blessings, and for this BEAUTIFUL Country We Live In! God Bless America!