Party For AMERICA!!! Happy 4th of July

Okay, for those of you who don't know the 4th of July is my favorite Holiday! I love it because over the years my neighborhood family have developed some fantastic traditions and it's jus the most fun filled day from sun up to sun down every year! Anyway, take a look at our fun festivities ...

Actually, we started some of the fun Sunday Night (the 3rd) with a fun family dinner. Check out our fancy food and table (I guess you can't really see, but I'm pretty sure Sandra Lee would be proud of our table scape!)

Check out our fancy blue sugar rimmed glasses with delicious berry lemonade! Yummy!

Nick wanted me to take a picture of him with the plate full of ribs! We were so excited to have Nick around for a few days. He was really missing us and Seth especially was super excited to get some daddy time in. Anyway, my husband the meat eater ...

The 4th started out with a yummy breakfast at home and then we immediately started getting ready for the neighborhood parade. Shelby was just a spectator with grandma this year, but she was ready to celebrate her first BIG holiday .... I'm pretty sure she's exciting for all the holidays to come after seeing how hard be partied for this one! :) Isn't this picture the cutest?!

Seth had a new found friend this past week. Charlie (or as he said it, "Char-wee") then were parade buddies!

Here they are in the fun fun fun parade ...

The fire truck that led the parade let the kids check it out after. Seth thought it was pretty cool, until he fell in there and was a little traumatized.

But, we recovered with lemonade and an m&m cookie ... funny how that always works for me too! :)

Seth was sitting in the driver seat and started pushing buttons and pushing on the breaks. He pushed the breaks so hard the engine made a crazy loud noise and the fireman that was standing outside the front door started freaking out and ran over. Seth kept trying to push buttons to which the fire man finally said, "Okay buddy, you're making me a little nervous...lets give someone else a turn!" LOL ... yes, my child was making the fire fighters anxious!

(welcome to my world fellas!)

The parade was a success and we were on the the South Sycamore water fight. Shelby even got her festive swim suit on to enjoy the fun!

and yes, aunt chelsea gave her a little pedicure the night before too!

Here is our crew getting water balloons filled...

Here's the whole crew afterward ...aren't we all looking glamorous!? It was a successful water fight, meaning, everyone got sneak attacked at least a few times! :)

Then we took a dip in the Oliver's pool. Here are the sunbathing beauties!

Seth was having fun with Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Bryan in the pool!

But, the best was swimming with Lindsey (Wind-sey! ... Seth's new BFF)

Next up: (I told you we never stop) Fireworks! Every year after the water fight we take a shower break and head over to State line to buy our fireworks at CRAZY JOE'S. We never disappoint the workers there either ... no, this is not a display table, we purchased everything in this picture. Actually, when we got there they designated a table for us to start piling all our loot on. Needless to say, Mr. Oliver and Mr. Wofford go a little crazy with the fireworks. Our show usually ends up to be better than the city one.

Once we were home we got all ready for our traditional BBQ dinner at the Oliver's house. Shelby was ready for some more 4th of July fun.

Here we are...the old Sycamore crew all grown up!

The new generation is starting to pile up too. Jenna just had baby noah a week exactly after Shelby was born.

Don't they make a cute couple?

Here is Miss Lindsey with Shelby girl!

After dinner we headed out to watch the Gardner city fireworks before heading to our secret spot to shoot our own off. This year it turned out not to be too secret there were a ton of people there, so we had to be a little creative. But, our celebration didn't end until well after midnight when all the crazy fireworks we bought were done.

It was a fun day and we can't wait to do it all again next year. Next year Uncle Taylor will be back from his mission and hopefully Jessica will be there too ... then our crew will be complete!

Party on America!