Happy Birthday America!

What a fun, yet BUSY weekend! Our celebration of America's birthday started off on the 3rd. My husband's friends LOVE fireworks and invited us to participate this year. Here is a sample of what was bought by Jeff & Brian...

I say a sample, because they had more. Yes, you can see it correctly... the WHOLE bed of the truck is packed down with the best-of-the best fireworks! It was insanely fun! We didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning, because they had SO many!

On the morning of the 4th, we went to church with Anna Ruth (Lance's girlfriend). Her father was giving the sermon. Afterwards, we were invited over for lunch at her parents house. They are such a lovely family. You could feel the love and true Christian spirit in their house. Anna Ruth is 1 of 5 kids! I am so jealous of that... I always thought it would be great to have that big of a family. How fun! Her parents are so warm, and it obviously spilled over to their children.

Once we left there, we ran home to gather the food and fireworks for the Thomas family showdown. I love the 4th in Thomas with Z's family. You never know what you are going to get! I know I am a broken record, but I feel so blessed to have such great people in my life. Z's aunt Kimmy is a blast. I have become so close to her in the last 2 years, and can understand why my husband has a special spot in his heart for her. Kimmy does not have children, so we have already decided to make her our "3rd mother" and take care of her in the future! Maybe in our next home, we will have a small guesthouse in the back. Norma, Debby, and Kimmy can be roomies! That would be hilarious... Anyway, Kimmy loves fireworks as much as Z's friends, so it was round 2 Sunday night! This year I was brave and lit a sparkler... Well, friends, lesson learned. I need to embrace my "city girl" and not try to be something I'm not. I burned my thumb so badly, that I had to ice it for the remaining of the evening and on the way home. Murphy's law should be defined by a snapshot of me!

Bo came along, and he did surprisingly well! I think trying to get this picture with his 4th of July hat was more upsetting than the fireworks! Great times with great people.
Happy Birthday, America!