Celebrations

We enjoyed celebrating Canada Day and U.S. Independence Day this past week.  Since I had freshman orientation all day, Canada Day was pretty low-key with some small fireworks (sparklers, snakes, snaps, smoke bombs) in the neighbor's yard.  It was so windy that we couldn't do much.  We watched a parade on Sunday and enjoyed the fireworks at MSUM on Sunday evening.  Grace enjoyed the fireworks much more than last year (and if they didn't have the loud noice associated with them, she would LOVE them).  She hid for part of the fireworks under a blanket cuddled up on my lap.  At one point I peeked under the blanket and she was smiling.  She also told me the fireworks were 'cute'.  Hmmm....I've heard fireworks described as many things, but 'cute' isn't one of them.  New adjective for fireworks.

Carson loved the fireworks - he'd been looking forward to the show for days.  The MSUM show is a little over 30 minutes of big-time fireworks.  The show started at 10:30 p.m.  The late night got the best of him and he fell asleep for the last 5 minutes or so.  The benefit of being hard of hearing, although he likely heard the 'booms' but was just too tired to care.  Thankfully Trav didn't have to lug and carry him back to the car; we were able to rouse him enough to have him walk.

Despite the late night on Sunday night, Grace woke at her usual early time (well, she did sleep in....all the way to about 6:15).  Such a party girl.  Carson slept in until about 7:00.  Needless to say, we were all tired (but only two of us were fine with admitting our sleepy state). 

We had yesterday off from teaching/work for the 4th.  We hosted a neighborhood BBQ last night - always fun to get the neighbor kids together and us adults can sit and visit while the kids play.  We ended the night with smores around our firepit.  If only my hips could handle smores each night!  Grace and Carson were the marshmallow bandits and downed multiple 'mallows before they even made it to be roasted!  It took a lot of convincing for baths and bedtime (of course, going to bed with sweat, sunscreen and bugspray is okay, right?!?!).  Thankfully, we kissed two clean kids goodnight.