Happy 4th!!!

Happy Independence Day, everyone!! We had a GREAT weekend with family and friends and are truly blessed.

Saturday we were in Atlanta celebrating birthdays for Kadie and Rylie and had a great time seeing everyone. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at PF Changs, some swimming with the cousins and a fabulous first birthday for "baby Rylie" - she is SO cute!!!!

After we made it home, we decided to go into town and see the fireworks that our hometown was doing. We hopped into the truck and met some friends in "our spot". We bought all the kids the new "flash pops" (it's like a ring pop but has a flashing light in it) - it was HUGE success and I have to give Brian credit for this idea.

Waiting for the fireworks to start....

On Sunday, we went to church and heard a fabulous speaker....he was a POW in the Vietnam War from 1967-1973 and had a great testimony!!! What a blessing to hear his story and see the pics that he brought. Brian was in Heaven (my "History Channel" baby) and I learned something new. It was just so evident that 1-it could ALWAYS be worse and 2-our God ALWAYS takes care of us.

After church we went to buy some fireworks and, as soon as we got home, Jackson and daddy made sure that they were working ok....it wasn't the kind that lit up, it was just some firecrackers that popped when it hit the ground. Here they are in their "safety goggles"...

Late that afternoon, we went over to some friends house to grill out and let the kids swim. Here is a pic of the crazy bunch...

....and then it gets sillier...

Finally, darkness came and we went over to the lake to shoot fireworks with several neighbors. The kids had a blast with the sparklers and it was fun to see everyone.

Jonathan did this most of the night.....he's not a big fan of fireworks..."they are too loud!"