Fourth of July Weekend

We had a lot of fun on 4th of July weekend. We got out and about a little bit and tried to make the most of it. We still didn't do all we had planned/talked about, but we tried! Saturday morning I took the kids to the splash pad. Jon had worked overtime and needed a few hours to sleep in. The weather is HOT in Texas, so I had planned to get up and out of the house after breakfast and a few chores. Turns out we got there before the water was even turned on! We went to the playground for a bit and worked up a nice sweat before we walked back over to the splash pad where, thank goodness, it was up and running.

It was Jasper's first time there and I was a little concerned about his knees since he refuses to walk yet. Turns out I had nothing to fret about - he did just fine of course! It took him a little while to get used to being wet and getting sprinkled, but he became fascinated with the little fountains and mostly stayed with them, not minding the occasional squirt and spray from nearby. I had remembered to bring the kids buckets and toys and they were a hit!! They love filling them up with water and hitting the water with the shovels. A lot of the other kids kept borrowing our things, and since my kids didn't mind, I was fine with it. I was so glad I went back in the house for them. :)



Sunday we went to church and came home for lunch and a good nap -- all four of us slept 3 hours! 3 HOURS! I'm a notoriously bad sleeper and bad napper, so I was thrilled and amazed at a 3-hour nap for myself, let alone that everyone else took one too! It was AWESOME.

That night we took the kids to fireworks in the city where Jon works. Every year they have a big family event with bounce houses and a train with a live band and vendors, followed by a big fireworks show. I'll be honest- I'm not really a fireworks person at all. They just don't do anything for me. This is actually the first year that Jon and I have ever intentionally gone out to see fireworks on the 4th, and I can't remember the last time I did before that. It was HOT of course, but tolerable until the sun went completely down and the slight breeze became nonexistent. ugh. When the fireworks started, Harper immediately jumped into Jon's lap and was scared for a little while until she got used to the noise. She enjoyed seeing the beautiful lights, though she never did get out of Jon's lap. Jasper didn't care for the noise either and was very content to have his head on my shoulder the whole time, peeking up every once in a while to look. I think he was more tired than anything though. We were up LATE, especially for my kiddos who go to bed very early.

Monday the 4th we spent hanging around the house not doing much of anything. We had intended to go back to the splash pad or to the community pool, but we were all really tired from the night before and it was nice and cool in our air conditioned house. :) Eventually that afternoon we blew up the inflatable pool and let the kids have some fun. They loved it - I love that kids are so easily entertained by some water in a kiddie pool and some plain old cups.

It was a good weekend and really nice just to have family time. It seems like we don't get enough of it. I love 3 day weekends!!!!

Here is Haper's "I'm mad!" face that she demonstrated for me after I told her the back windows in Mommy's car don't roll down. We stopped for gas and Jon had rolled down our windows for some air while he pumped. She wanted hers rolled down too.

At the fireworks show.

Splashing in the backyard on the 4th.