Happy 4th of July!

The college guys who just moved in to the house behind our house are geniuses. Today they made the largest slip n' slide I have ever seen. Made of tarps...about 3 or 4 of them probably...with a full size inflatable pool at the bottom. And last week they came to our house with a plate full of homemade cookies and an index card with their names and phone numbers. That way we can call them instead of the cops when they have parties (like every Friday and Saturday night) or when they set off fireworks at 12:01am on July 4. But we're too lazy to call them or the cops. Plus we have a really loud white noise maker in our bedroom. But if they wake up Brynn, I'm gonna be pissed.

Anyway, that's not really what this blog post is about. This blog post is about all of our nice, family-friendly activities here in Blacksburg this July 4th.

Because Blythe played t-ball this year, she got to be in the Blacksburg July 4th parade. This is the first year we've ever been in Blacksburg for July 4th, so we didn't really know what to expect. Braden took Blythe and Ginsey so they could meet up with their teammates and get in a truck for the parade. Only there were no other teammates there, so Braden searched for someone else they knew from another team and connected with some of our neighbors. That team was riding on Engine 10....yes folks, a FIRE ENGINE! And they got to ride INSIDE it! Here they are waving to us.

Ethan loved watching the parade and collecting the candy being thrown at him. Here he is waving at the parade. Notice his arch nemesis, the "Ice Man", dressed up behind him. Ethan hates that guy. On Friday night at an outdoor concert, he tried to give Ethan a high five and Ethan started crying.

After the parade, we headed to the pool where there was a cookout and we ate for pretty cheap. Brynn was really hot from being at the parade. Plus she really needed to wake up, so it was about time she try out her swimming skills. Here's what she thinks of her first time swimming...

Yes, I got the camera strap in the picture. Gotta catch those smiles as quick as you can. Actually, she was pretty impartial on the swimming thing. Didn't hate it, but didn't love it so much either.

The kids were exhausted, so we didn't stay up long enough to watch the fireworks, but while I was blogging this post, I went outside and found we could see the town fireworks perfectly from our back deck. They were pretty good so Braden and I watched them for a while.

And now at present time, the college guys behind our house are setting off fireworks so it sounds like our house is being attacked by gunfire. Bogie is trying to jump in my lap here at the computer, Juni is likely having a heart attack somewhere in our house, and so far all 3 kids are still sleeping, but Brynn is making noises in her crib. Please, please don't let her wake up. Thinking of texting those college guys to cut that s%*t out.