07.04.13

We had a really good Fourth of July this year. I was lucky enough to get the whole day off of work which meant that we got to spend time with both of our families.
We started off the day with a classic BBQ at the Taylor household. My mom decked the yard out with the cute idea of making a star stencil and using flower to turn your ordinary run-of-the-mill yard into awesome USA yard of patrioticness.

he was actually yelling that as he skipped through the picture

My dad went for a tri-tip this year (as opposed to just burgers or some steaks) and let's just say I will gladly welcome any change that is that tasty! We got to have it thin sliced on some buns and yummy thicker cuts. Be jealous other Taylor's.

My dad also had the fantastic idea of playing a game of kickball. Highlights included a double play by Megan, Jeff sliding back to first but getting nailed by Cody and Olive kicking the ball and then thinking it was soccer, kicking it repeatedly all the way to first base. And it's not a Taylor BBQ with a good game of croquet! Thanks to Connor it was extra festive for the holiday. And I'm not one to brag, but I will: I won (which doesn't happen very often, though I get close a lot)!

Flag parade!

Rowie loved her flag

Cody's "America Face"

Olive was making the cutest faces talking to Cody

See?

Olive is licking her lips when all the desserts got places in front of her

 

 

Our park planted these ugly trees next to our yard so I decided to tie the branches together in loops when I lived at home so I told Connor to jump through one

So of course he did. *hidden bonus: mitch photobomb*

how cute is that swimsuit?!

She was being a bird flapping her arms through the water so Megan thought she's give her a lift. Too cute.

 We then headed out to Cody's parent's house for part two of our day. We had been having a huge heat wave the week leading up to the fourth so getting to swim in the in-law's pool was something that I had been anticipating quite a lot. The neatest part about going to Dave and Julie's is with their view you get a valley full of firework. It's pretty much firework surround sound and we get our own good little show with some fireworks people bring.

'merica

Cake pops!

Made by yours truly. It's not summer until you've had a fruit pizza. *blueberries provided by my parent's awesome blueberry bush

I was messing with my DSLR camera and was so pleased with the awesome fireworks shots I managed to get!

Sparklers

I never want anything more from the Fourth than a day full of good food and family and friends and this year fit those requirements to a tee. We sure are blessed.