Let Freedom Ring

With our impending vacation occurring the very next day,

we opted to not host the neighborhood 4th of July

festivities and graciously let another family

do the honors.

The heat was already effecting the kids,

because I couldn't get a single shot of them all!

I give up!

Ben 4  1/2, Emma 6  3/4, Sydney 8  1/2,

Dan almost 1 and Keira 2  3/4.

With the grill hot and the watermelon cool,

it was time to eat!

I brought the delicious Buffalo Chicken Dip.

It's always a hit!

Dan found solace in Cheetos and water.

Ben ate his weight in watermelon.

I think he was more thirsty then hungry!

Keira went around dishing out her

usual kisses!

Daddy helped keep us cool by

pouring H2O on our heads.

When did she look so grown up?

Keira insisted everyone

wanted water poured on their

heads just like her!

Dan obliged.

My health nut Emma loves her

water, salads and veggies!

We were so happy to know that

Daddy was going to be with us

for over a week,

free from the demands of work!

Dan kept cool by nursing on

a banana Popsicle.

Don't even THINK of taking this away!

He has a firm grip on that dessert!

After dinner we ran over to the local fireworks

stands and purchased the pyrotechnics 

for the night.

And Dad offered to take the 2 babies

home and put them to bed for the night.

We knew Dan would be in

NO shape at 9pm to watch fireworks

and Keira is still deathly afraid of 

the loud noises that accompany

the evenings festivities.

But we still had an hour to waste,

and the heat was still pressing down

on us like a weight,

so it was time to COOL OFF!!

Here we come to get you MOM!!

I promptly ran away after taking

this photo.

I love that both girls are heavily armed

for the battle!

Yet of course,

there is always retaliation 

in the water wars.

But it doesn't matter,

we all love to get wet.

Ben is making enemies quickly!

Time for a refill.

This game was perfect for the little

ones.

It was hysterical to watch too!

Some kids went slow, trying to fill their

bottle the fastest to win the game...

...and others just dumped it out to

drench the sucker holding the bottle

on their head!

Either way, Emma is always a 

good sport.

Sydney and Ben's turn

Some of the shorter friends need a lift.

I think we might need a 

costume change! 

At this point I think Sydney is drowning

in the water,

but pushes through the effects

to win the game.

Emma concentrating,

she too desperately wants to win.

After we were all dried off and

the sun began to set...

Daddy dropped off pj's

and we warmed up the lighters.

With camping chairs set up next to

our friends, 

or as far away from the possibility

of getting scorched by a spark.

It was time to start!

Ka-pow!

"The Mamma's who light a billion

sparklers for the demanding children."

(Diana Goellner, Me and Camille Thompson)

Sydney holding one of the longest sparklers EVER!

Madison Goellner and Emma

found the trick to making circles

with sparklers and watching the trail

of light it leaves behind!

Ben our little Statue of Liberty!!

Happy Independence Day America!!