4th of July

Every year we attend my hometown's annual 4th of July festival and parade. It is your typical hometown parade complete with firetrucks, pageant winners, and local politicians. The evening is completed with fireworks, of course, which are really good especially considering the size of the town. It is great. I can't imagine missing it. My father (local politician) always rides in the parade. Since grandkids have been in the picture they have also been riding with him which means my sister, Allison, and I ride too. Here are a couple of pictures of Sam and Sophie while waiting for the parade to begin. The parade route takes you past the county jail (how redneck do I sound during this post). I do not know what possessed me to point this out to Sophie. Since then she has become obsessed with jails. First she told me all the ways you make jail more like home and then (thankfully) she informed me she would never go to jail. She has asked if other towns have jails and what one would have to do to go to jail. Really, did I have to tell her where the jail was?

The festival also has a few fair type rides. Sophie LOVES to ride and could ride all day, but Sam was not so sure. He did ok but I think he would prefer to keep his feet on the ground.

After the 4th we spent time with many of our friends and family that we had not seen since Christmas. The kids did great. I was pleasantly surprised. I figured Sam would not do well staying in so many places, seeing lots of new faces, and being off his schedule. However, he did way better that I expected.

When we arrived home both kids were so happy. It was around 9 pm and they ran from room to room. Sophie said, "It's my same room!" I'm not sure where she thought her room was going. And Sam just giggled and turned in circles when I took him to his room. It was too sweet to watch.