A Fun and Festive Fourth

Our Fourth of July started with a BBQ lunch at the park with friends from our church, which went really well as long as I kept away from the smell of the BBQ (it makes me nauseous because I'm pregnant, and we weren't telling yet so I just pretended not to be sick all day). But other than that and a few sunburns, it was fun.

Later in the evening we had another BBQ at our house, complete with our own firework show put on by our own pyromaniac Mike White.

The kids had fun making fourth of July hats and playing the yard. The weather was beautiful and it was so nice to spend the day outside!

Ryan made a firework hat, very appropriately.

Jenny and Amie loved their fourth of July babies, happy first fourth Isaac!

Ellie, Katie...and Mike graced us with their imitation of the

'Statue of Liberty'

Dozens of Sparklers!

We even had super, mega, gigantic ones.

Thanks Pyro.

It was also fun to have the Deem family join us for fireworks and add their own pyrotechnics to the display, thanks Dave!

Mike and Amie brought a sinfully, delicious patriotic fruit pizza.

(Calories don't count on holidays, right?)

We all enjoyed the fireworks, especially the little "jumping beans" that made a zipping sound and shot 100 feet strait up in the air! We had tank wars too, and although a few of the kids thought it was loud (namely Trevor, see how he is covering his ears in the picture below) we all had fun.

I made a playlist on my Ipod of classic American songs, and it was fun to listen to, even though the girls (namely Ellie and Katie) kept turning it back to Carrie Underwood's "All American Girl" and I had the song stuck in my head for a week afterward.

Rob's buddy from work Aree's wife, Mays, came and we were glad to share her first Fourth of July in America since she moved here from Iraq only a few months ago.

Sorry Aree had to spend it in the ER!

I also got to meet the wife of one of the new Residents.

Thanks for coming over Todd and Emily! I hope your transition to Michigan is going smoothly.

The kids watched the fireflies do their own firework show after ours were done (since they are usually not up late enough to see the fireflies) and we all went to bed way late.

We are grateful for all those who sacrificed in a multitude of ways for the freedoms we daily enjoy, and we are proud to be Americans.

USA all the way.

Dad on Daddy's Day!

My dad flew in for his first visit to our Michigan house

the night before Father's day,

how perfect is that?

I got my Dad for Daddy's day!

We made yummy Crepes for breakfast for our Daddy Rob and Grandpa Anderson.

The kids roped Grandpa in for a game of Twister before church.

We had fun giving gifts to Dad and Grandpa.

(Ryan's trying on Rob's new working gloves, and Ellie made them their stylish ties)

After church we took some nice Sunday pictures, and it sure was a nice Sunday!

It was perfect weather.

I'm the one who looks most like my dad out of all seven kids.

Lucky me. :)

I love you Dad!

These kids love their Daddy!

Sisters.

We had a yummy grilled chicken and veggies dinner on the patio, and played the new game Lolly got for her birthday, "Blokus."

Then we enjoyed the nice Sunday by taking Dad Anderson and Jeni

on a walk around our neighborhood.

(Ellie took the picture that's why she's not in it)

I love this picture. Ryan's middle name is 'Scott,' which happens to be Rob's middle name AND my dad's first name.

Oh, and Rob's dad's first name too. :) Ryan has the shoulder's of 'giants' to stand on (and climb on).

The day ended with a little loopiness and a dozen silly pictures of us girls. We'll keep the others confidential, won't we Jen?

We had only half a day on Monday with my Dad and sister Jeni before they flew out to visit my brother and his family in Georgia.

But we had made it a good half day!

We played FRISBEE GOLF,

which Dad and Jen hadn't played before.

Grandpa made a sweet sand castle with the kids while Jeni and I played Tennis,

or tried to play at least...

Then we took them to our favorite Castle Park

so they could see our stomping grounds.

Our kids could swing FOREVER!

Especially with such a willing, talented pusher!

My dad was trying to go as high as Ellie can pump herself.

We walked around the lake and saw a mommy duck with 6 babies!

Our final stop was the Canton library, we rave about it so we thought we'd show them what the fuss was all about.

We had just enough time for some lunch before they caught their plane.

Thanks for the visit Grandpa and Jeni!

We loved it.

Canton's Liberty Fest

Canton loves its Liberty Fest,

and we enjoyed it too.

The day began with a PARADE down Ford Road.

It was such a small town parade, it was hilarious!

The highlights were:

Hillbillies Club

"The Shoppers of Canton" with their colored grocery carts and special marching formations

(they even won best of show, but I thought they were more impressive last year)

The Gardeners Club

The Jailbirds on little motorbikes

The old fashion marching band

and Trevor's all time favorite, the Clowns

Ellie's favorite was the candy, and it was gone fast.

We had fun walking to and from the parade with the Cuff family.

In the afternoon we headed over to ride on some

rides at the fair.

I think Trevor had the most fun of all

Ellie was happy to be tall enough for the flying saucer this year!

The day ended with a pretty impressive firework display.

We met Rob's buddies from his Podiatry program for the show.

Who can pull the craziest face?

I don't know, I think the Ryan's tied.

Hooray for small town celebrations!