Our 4th of July celebration

This weekend was so much fun. We left Friday at about 1:30 to go to Evanston Wyoming. I'm glad it was a cooler day because our vehicle has no AC at the moment because it is broken. So we drove the whole way with the windows rolled down. We were yelling back and forth at each other, and I got a kink in my neck from turning it towards the back to talk to my Mom and my brother Quinn. So we made good time! When we got to my Brother Chris' house the kids immediately ran for the toys, the adults chatted for a little bit and munched on some munchies. Then the Men decided that they were ready to go and buy fireworks. Matt said that he was going to spend $150 on his share. I was like " oh no your not!" That is a lot of fireworks, and a lot of money to spend on something that is going to be gone like a snap! I followed him trying to decide how to say no nicely, without sounding like a control freak. So I said Matt do you want to be able to buy a nice ceiling fan for the house to help save money. He was like yeah, then I said please don't spend that much. How much do you have in your wallet? He said about $50. I said that is perfect, don't spend more than that. Well it turns out that they got their purchase of fireworks for 50% off because of Matt's military I.D. and spent only $70 total . So Matt had cash left over in his wallet. I love good deals like that, especially on something that doesn't last. When the guys got back the kids changed into there swimming suits and played with squirt guns, and water balloons, and jumped on the tramp with the sprinkler underneath it. They had a blast. My sweet Sister in law Sarah is way crafty and had put together a craft for the kids to make. This is what the kids made: Madisynn was posing so perfectly! I love it! I also love the tattoo on her cheek. I swear it takes up her whole sweet little face! McKenzie is sporting her cute hat and little tattoo too!:Trouble is lurking ahead! Oh oh... =) :Gabe, McKenzie, Madisynn, & McKell :Do you remember the fun parachute game that we played in elementary school for P. E. sometimes? If you didn't get the chance to do this growing up you totally missed out! I love the parachute game. Last year we played it with my whole side of the family in Evanston, so this year when Sarah said she had reserved it again, I was super happy! We had a blast with it again this year, as you can tell with Madisynn! Next we fired up the grill and had a nice little Bar-B- Q and more time to visit. My favorite! Then we headed on over to where we were going to lite fireworks. This was at about 8 or 8:30. We found the perfect spot that wasn't crowded with people already lighting off their own fireworks.

Here are some more fabulous pictures of our evening:

It was a beautiful sunset! I was grateful to have been there to experience it!

See a HAPPY Me:

Here is the loot we all bought! That Bug Zapper was $25 by itself, but it was totally worth it! It was the best of our fireworks that we bought of the night, and it lasted forever!:

Here is my brother Quinn with the loot: The 3 Pyros! Quinn, Matt, and my older brother Chris:

McKenzie sporting her patriotic shirt:

Madisynn sporting her patriotic shirt:

My Mom and the grand daughters. Isn't there just something about a Grandma's lap??? So cute!:

My Crafty Sister in law Sarah and her little boy Trace! She is exhausted by this point, poor thing! Trace loved the fireworks! He's only 2 months, but wow he is so alert. He barely even cried. =)

This little girl didn't want to get off of her Grandma's lap because she was scared of the fireworks, that she might get hurt!:

This little guy was the one who finally got up the guts to do sparklers first and really enjoy himself. Eventually McKell, and McKenzie followed him. Madisynn didn't want anything to do with them. She would rather play with the light up necklaces, and bracelets!:

It was such a fun day! I'm so glad we were able to go! I thought that we had made it free and clear of all the mosquito's though. I was wrong when I woke up early in the morning scratching. Madisynn got bit twice, and the bites look ginormous on her little arm. All day today she kept saying my owe, and would want me to scratch her arm for her. Poor thing. =(

Anyways it was nonstop action from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The city fireworks were OK compared to all of the other fireworks going off around us. =)

Here is a video that I recorded of how crazy it gets in Evanston. I'm sorry it's not the greatest. I really need a better camera.:

So there you have it folks! Our fun 4th of July celebration. I all hope you had a great day too! I'm out of here. =)