Our July 4th day was the standard American celebration. BBQ with some fabulous friends with some yummy food. Great hosts who didn't kick us out even after Taylor peed on their bathroom floor and rug. Mason loved the pasta salad. Brennan was in heaven with the baked beans, Taylor ate a large portion of watermelon, and Carter pretty much ate the hot dog. Brennan's tummy continued to expand through the homemade Mango Sorbet which we cut him off of because he was just eating the adult size portion with no cares in the world. Because of Mikes back we did a divide and conquer evening for the fireworks and fair. We took two cars and at the end of the BBQ Mason was fighting to go with Dad. We told him countless times that Mike was going home, but he wouldn't have it. Mike does report that once they got home Mason finally got it and was a little bummed out. So Mike had Brennan and Mason while the rest of us party animals headed to the fair.
Carter and I went on a ride called the Midnight Express. Crazy fair ride made me feel like I was shaking for about 5 minutes afterwards. Carter's head looked like it was going to snap off his body, so fun was had by all...NOT! Carter was just "bursting to go on a ride mom." At one point I did hear, "Make it stop, I don't like it, make it stop!" Then as it slowed down to end he was saying how fun it was and he wanted to go again. We did not go again for a second round of torture. I think I was holding on to Carter really tight because I am actually sore today from it. After that grand time Carter took a couple turns down a slide that was super tall and then we went and bought some candy floss(cotton candy). Taylor spent that time with her favorite person and one of our friends, Robyn. Although when we got back we did find it had been a community effort because of my daughters unpredictable bladder. Thanks guys!! We enjoyed a concert by the Tops in Blue. Some was a little cheesy, but the kids really enjoyed it and it was quite an impressive set up. They are all active duty Air Force who try out and tour for one year doing concerts all over the world. They were very good and entertaining as well. The transition from concert to fireworks was poorly executed. They didn't think things out to well when it came to the big trucks that were in the way of seeing all the lower ground firework action. Then the music was having problems so they would delay the fireworks while trying to sort that out. The kids loved it and Carter ran in circles the whole time screaming that they were shooting at him. Overall, the fireworks were pretty good, although the worst year ever in comparison to the few we have been too up here. Just technical difficulties. What do you do, right? Then it was the find your car fun! This is why I need Mike at these things every year. I can never find the van afterwards, he on the other hand has a built in GPS that leads the way. I was WAY off course and was thankful for a car alarm. Rows that were rows were now just big long lines of people trying to leave. Thankfully we passed a dozen people who were also just trying to find their vehicle and so I didn't feel to stupid. We found it, we made it home safe, and I crashed about 2 minutes later.
As Carter said, "Mom, you need to stop taking a picture and let us open it before Mason loses his mind!"
Mason's dilema, if I let go of this bag of Jelly Belly's I will be forced to leave them unguarded while I open these other two presents, but now they are going after the presents. He finally let me guard the sweeties while he opened....more sweeties. Grandpa Mason was incharge of gift picking out this year and apparently walked the store wondering what Mason would enjoy the most. He guessed it right, Jelly Belly fun and Swedish Fish frenzy. Mason was in heaven...although he thought he should have the right to consume all the food right then. I got 'yelled' at when I told him Grandpa wrote he couldn't eat them all in one day. :)
Brennan was quite pleased with his little treasures as well. The new Little People Fisher Price are just like the old ones(but larger because our children can choke easier)--I also was pleased and thought back to my childhood. Carter thought they were robot animals. :)
Looking at Carter and Taylor who were not left out and received a bag to share with Mom and Dad. Although I am pretty sure Mason is laughing at us realizing he got a lot more than us!!
