4th of July

The 4th of July in Wake Forest is so fun!

It actually starts the night before with the classic 4th of July thing...fireworks!! The town does a big fireworks show on the evening of the 3rd. We found a spot last year where we can watch the show without having to pay to get in. (We like free!!) And a bonus to this location is the huge open field! We meet several friends up there and let the kids run free until dark when the show starts.

Look at all these red faces! They were more than happy to take a popsicle break and a quick group photo.

Us moms were content to sit and watch our kids run around : )

The weather was questionable at best...really dark clouds rolled in, along with lots of lightning in the distance, but no rain,

so they went ahead and started the show before it was officially dark.

Fine with us!!

The next morning we walked in the Annual WF Children's Parade. It lines up around the corner from our house and goes down N. Main which we love. The route winds around town and ends in a local park with all sorts of fun activities for kids, but the past two years we've cut it short and just done the N. Main stretch. This year it was blazing hot, and I'm great with child, so that was more than enough for us!

We met up with our parade partners, the Lyons!

First time for them as they are usually out of town for this week.

So glad they were here with us!

This guy was excited about the candy being thrown out along the parade route. A little too excited in fact, as he wound up getting separated from us because he went back to look for more candy without telling us. He was only lost for a few minutes, but still. Josh went back to look for him as soon as we realized he wasn't up there with the rest of the kids. And I'm proud of my boy, because as soon as he knew he was lost, he went and found policemen and told them his name and that he was lost.

Not exactly the teachable moment I was expecting, but I think it was a valuable lesson learned! And we breathed a big sigh of relief that it wasn't a more costly lesson. Praise the Lord.

We rounded out our day by grilling out for lunch with our neighbors,

and then more fun with the Lyons over dinner.

And I had to showcase this dessert that Stephanie made. Homemade (all-organic) pound cake with fresh whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries. Red, white and blue...and delicious!

This 4th was extra fun since Kate has studied American History the past two years, and could really appreciate all that this day represents for our country. Freedom comes with a price though. We praise God that we live in a country where we are free, remembering that we are the beneficiaries of the sacrifice of others. And that makes the freedom that is ours in Christ, by grace through faith, all the more precious.