Long story short, we started the day with no official plan. The annual neighborhood block party took this year off and with the holiday in the middle of the week, we decided to stay in our little valley. So morning came and we took our little girls over to the town pancake breakfast to join Grandma and Grandpa. We walked around town hall to check out the arts festival and art auction. Then we took a drive up Memorial Hill, a local landmark that I had never been to before. At the top of the hill is a monument to the armed forces, includes plaques that bear the names of every person from the community who has served in the various wars since the War of 1812. It was a serene and picturesque moment, and a perfect way to honor the 4th of July. We continued our day with lunch at a local hamburger joint, with our two giggling girls sitting at the high bar stool, shortly followed by naptime.
Butterfly's nap was super short so she helped me prepare a special snack of doughnut holes, strawberries and blueberries arranged to look like an American flag. Then Grandma brought over an origami project for her and daddy to share until Ladybug woke up and our water toys playdate began. Daddy set up the slip and slide and Butterfly was thrilled! She went running and sliding countless times while Ladybug was more reluctant. Daddy slid her down it once and she giggled but opted to not do it again. They rode their scooters, splashed in the water table, played with their new the Little Mermaid figurines and devoured our flag snack. AngelBaby discovered her new favorite food and DEVOURED fresh blueberries as fast as she could. She would squeal, pleading for more and then shake in anticipation as she watched me bring another handful to her and drop them onto her tray. She would snatch them up fistfuls at a time, grinning so big that half the berries would fall out of her mouth each time.
Once Grandpa and Auntie joined us, we stuffed ourselves with tasty bbq fare and then got set up for fireworks. The girls loved watching the sparklers but didn't want to hold them. So we settled into our chairs to watch Daddy be our firework emcee. With the dry conditions and recent fires, we were extra careful in setting off a few small fountains out in the middle of the street. And then he set out our "finale" firework--something I had won as a Bunko prize. It was a good sized and looked promising. So we lit it, anticipating the fountains that would come from this "Red White and Bling!". Immediately a shot fired, soared skyward and exploded in glittering colors, followed by a dozen more spectacular aerial explosions. (I definitely didn't know it was an aerial but it was amazing!) Hopefully my neighbors didn't mind. (and no, we didn't start any fires.) The girls were still wound up and quickly discovered the basket of party stuff Grandma had brought. They donned their gold crowns and found the horns. The horns had long foil tassels and promptly became Butterfly's pompoms. She cheered and chanted and twirled across the yard, throughout the house and all around until it was long past bedtime.
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