Weekend Fun and Celebrating

We spent the weekend having fun.

We started out with the Sidewalk of Fire.
A annual celebration in our neighborhood hosted by two families and supported by over 250.
It starts with a parade (which we actually missed due to waiting for Jaguar's family to come pick him up for a weekend visit).
Then comes a potluck dessert bar. If you can think of it for dessert we probably sampled it.
The have a rocket launcher that after all the fun with rockets they launch glow sticks for the kids.

Tree Monkey's face paint

Wiggly Worms face paint
Glowing Lazy Lion, Koda Bear, and Wiggle Worm

It's is totally wicked!!!

Face painting, Popsicles, friends, neighbors, and good fun.

Then comes the start of the fireworks.

Rows and rows of fireworks lit by pyromaniacs in grown man form adult men to assure safety. They work like a well oiled machine. Some setting up the fireworks, some lighting. Others sweeping burned shells into the gutter while others douse with water and then dump in the trash.

Following the fun everyone helps clean up the trash and put stuff away.

While watching this fabulous show I realize that any lame fireworks I light will pale in comparison. I think we will just donate to the fun each year and celebrate with our neighborhood.

Special thanks to the the two families who began this tradition and to all their planning and efforts to keep this great event going. (Names withheld due to not having permission to post them)

**insert here a dumb act by Koda Bear that can be read at this post:(**

Next morning we found ourselves sitting and eating our Mc D's breakfast (it is the only time I ever eat at said restaurant- 4th of July breakfast). We saved a spot for some friends with smaller children and we had great company during the parade.

Our early morning risers and spot savers

The crowd around us
The start of the parade
Eventually the clouds and 5 minute rain showers went away and there wasn't enough breeze to keep Tree Monkey cool. Good thing we brought cold water in a cooler!
The love birds don't seem to be too hot to snuggle *tee hee*

After the parade and due to unexpected late night activities we took a nap. ALL of us.

We then had a BBQ with my mom and sister. Good food and fun. I have a great family and I love spending time with them. My brothers and my sister-in-law spent the day with her mom. She was born on the 4th of July! How fun to have such celebrations going on on the day of your birth.

We then watched the Stadium of Fire fireworks from our office window, while Oldest took Frog and Tree Monkey up close. Monkey Wrench and Jumping Monkey hung with her family for the show.

Sunday, SUNDAY!!!!

We went to church then I came home and made a pasta salad and headed up north to my BFF since 7th grade, Becky and her hubby's (who is also a friend from high school) home. We barbecued and ate and ate and ate. We had hamburgers, a veggie tray (sorry about the 5 cans of olives Becky, my family loves them) a fruit tray with all the best kinds of fruit, pasta salad, soda, homemade ice cream and lots of toppings. I'm sure I left something out.

Kids having fun

K and Sassy chilllin' on the swing

Jaguar hiding from that crazy lady with that dang camera! ;)
Uncle Ray trying to kiss Jaguar and make him laugh. Ha ha!
The love birds!

Yeah, my friends totally rock and they have great kids that are close in age to mine. They are great hosts and we have both had such crazy busy lives that we haven't hung out in years like that. Not making that mistake again. I now realize how much I've missed them. They are only about 25 minutes away so I have no excuse not to hang out with them.

It was a great weekend and filled with love and fun.

It was a happy 4th of July