Family Fun Weekend at TEDs (aka Fourth of July, Round Two)

Every year our awesome friends host a party out at their property in the country.  We go swimming in the lake, fish a little, ride the four wheelers around the property and on the well worn paths through the woods, and spend the night catching up around the campfire, drinks in hand, surrounded by music, good friends, and a spectacular fireworks display!  Well spectacular for a DIY, non-professional display ~ nontheless very impressive!  The kids stay up as late as they possibly can, which is usually midnight due to all the swimming and running around and then crash in the RV while hubby and I head back to the campfire for drinks and music.  Happy Fourth of July Round 2!

Happy Independence Day!!!

freedom (noun)

1. The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

2. The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.

We had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend with the requisite parade, carnival, barbecue, swimming, and of course fireworks and family. The boys got to go to the parade with their cousins and they were all absolute troopers in the stifling heat. The candy and bubbles were main attractions for them (never mind that there were clydesdale horses and marching bands!)

That's Maddie-O catching bubbles at the WG parade. >>>

Freedom is a slippery slope for me as a mom.  Of course I want my kids to have freedom... freedom to express themselves, freedom to be creative, freedom from fear and all the injustices and bad things in this world.  Is it bad that I just don't want them to be independent quite yet?  Maybe when they're 30 I'll be able to let go.

Oh and for the time being that whole freedom thing we're celebrating does not extend to their rights to the candy jar.  I've definately put constraints on that ~ sorry boys!  I think half the fun was checking out their candy stash anyway... that's them below checking out the candy loot for about the 100th time. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Another beautiful baby boy

Just over a week old and all the best newborn qualities:  sweet, fresh, and completely kissable.  I really have to restrain myself to NOT kiss these little babies.  But they are so sweet when they sleep and look at this guys lips, totally kissable!  For the record, I did not kiss him, I left that to his mama.  I didn't even sniff him, well maybe I smelled the top of his head once. or twice.  Thanks to mama C for letting me photograph your precious little one.  I hope he's letting you get lots of sleep and give him a kiss for me ;)