Day Two : the 4th of July!

Our Saturday started about 4:30am, at least for Chloe and Mommy.  I awoke to her crying Mommy.  Our rooms at Granddaddy’s are set up jack-and-jill style, so I crossed through the bathroom to check on her, only to realize she wasn’t on her pile of blankets.  She had set up her bed on the floor right up against the big bed, despite our attempts to put her near the wall.  Without glasses and in the dark, it took me a few seconds to locate her.  She was saying “in here,” which come to find out meant under the bed.  She was way up under there, and not only that, she was sideways.  So I had to lay and pull her feet and together we worked her out.  I suggested moving her bed, yet she still insisted on laying on the floor right by the bed.  So I piled up the extra decorative pillows under the edge of the bed, and back to sleep we went :)

Suzzette and I had hoped to run a 5k to celebrate the 4^th, but with the rain, it didn’t happen.  After breakfast, we did venture out to find a parade though.  We met up with Chris, Suzzette, Emma, and Franklin in Great Falls.  It was pouring when we got there!  We hung out under the Safeway overhang and then eventually a Wells Fargo.  Fortunately the rain subsided in time for the parade.  Suzzette kept the kids entertained while we waited with games like Simon Says and the Hokey Pokey.  It was a cute, small town parade complete with firetrucks, politicians, community groups, tons of candy, horses, and even Spiderman in an old-fashioned mail truck.  After the parade, the kids did a few jumpy bounce houses.  Most of them were too big for Chloe and Franklin, but we did find one that worked well enough.  Abby was a great helper and assisted the two little ones all the way through.  Thanks Abs!

After the parade and festivities, we said goodbye to Suzzette and headed back to Granddaddy’s for lunch.  We enjoyed some much needed downtime in the afternoon – watching a movie, a run for Mommy, and of course playing in the basement.  We had a wonderful dinner at The Greene Turtle with Granddaddy and Grandma Jo-Ann.  It was a nice burger place and quite tasty.  We then headed to the town of Leesburg for fireworks.  We had a great spot on the lawn of a Catholic church, away from the biggest crowds.  Ryan had a blast running and playing with two brothers – eight and six years old.  They ran and ran and ran.  It was fun to watch him having so much fun.  There was also a five year boy and his three year old sister nearby, and Abby and Chloe occasionally played with them.  They were cute little towheads :)  Abby spent most of the evening with Granddaddy and Grandma Jo-Ann though.  She’s our sweet, cuddly one.  Another highlight was catching fireflies.  Ryan was really pretty good at it!  Chloe fell asleep in my arms about 9pm.  She was NOT a fan of the fireworks.  She woke up sort of when they started, but she refused to actually wake up and acknowledge the world.  She kept her eyes squeezed shut and her head buried in my arm.  She would not let me sit her up on my hip, she insisted on burrowing down into my armpit and hiding.  She didn’t flinch or cry at all, it was more like she was in a trance – she was totally off in her happy place.  The rest of us enjoyed the fireworks.  It was a great show with a nice soundtrack of patriotic music.  After the fireworks, Ryan’s new friends came to find him and say goodbye.  They asked something about if they’d see him at fireworks next year, but Ryan told them he lived in Georgia and was just on vacation.  It was a pleasant evening, and the girls were quickly asleep in the car.  It was about 10:30 by the time we got back to Granddaddy’s, so we all went to bed right away.

Happy Birthday America!  We love you!  We have so much to be thankful for this day and everyday.  Our country is the best, and I love celebrating the 4^th of July!