Every year our neighborhood has a 4th of July parade and it reminds me of something in a "Southern Living" Magazine. We decorate our wagon and bikes, get on our best 4th of July apparel, dress up the dogs, walk our one mile (usually sweaty) parade route with about 100 neighbors, then finish off the parade with lemonade, iceys, donuts, cookies, and Popsicles. My kids talk about it all year long.
This year was like many years previous in that Winston misbehaved the whole parade route and annoyed and barked at other dogs and then urinated on his 4th of July t-shirt. Woody of course made good choices. We also had our annual "pulled pork and baked bean" lunch with our inflatable bounce house in the back yard. This year was the best ever because we had lots of family in town. My sister Melissa and her husband Joel and my precious niece Harper came in from Washington DC. My Mom and Dad were also here and was actually my Dad's first time to meet Smith because when he flew up for the first weekend in June Smith had still not arrived. Jason's brother Travis and his wife Karie and my two nephews Jameson and Owen also came. Jackson and Mollie Jane were thrilled. Jameson and Jackson rode together in the parade together on their bikes and Mollie Jane and Owen rode together in the wagon. They all had a great time bouncing in the bounce house and playing Wii when we got back to the house. Jason's parents and some very special friends from Kansas City (my sister's Godparents) also made it up for lunch along with lots of neighbors and friends. We had a little rain but it still turned out to be a blast.
After our big lunch and party we headed out to our club and went swimming, jumped in more bounce houses, got our faces painted, chilled out with a very loud band, ate another fabulous meal and watched a great fireworks show. Mollie Jane was a little afraid of the fireworks but as long as she was on Daddy's lap she was okay. Jason's sister Jill and her husband David also came out to the club with us to enjoy the festivities. It was really a great day and night and I was sad when the day ended. How lucky to have all our family and friends around on such a fun day.
