4th of July Festivities!

Happy 4th of July!! 

I've mentioned in the past that the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.  Every year, my family and friends have a competition. In the past, it's been a costume contest. The first year, the theme was "most patriotic" and I was the statue of liberty. The second year was "Favorite amendments" and I was the 9th amendment, and the third year was "favorite American song" and Eila and I were "I'm Just a Bill". This year, we decided to just dress up in red, white, and blue and everyone brought a treat. I made cheese stars and oreo truffles.

We took part in the annual spot saving extravaganza. Check out the link at the top to find out more about it. 

The parade started at 7:00- one hour past Eila's bedtime. We left the house at 5:30 so we could get to our parade and spot and eat snacks and celebrate a little before it started. 

We weren't sure how Eila would do with staying up so late, but there were lots of treats, so she was a trooper.
This isn't even all of the snacks and treats! So much food! 

She lounged with Dan and did some munching before trying to run up and down the street. 

I think she had more fun trying to run all over and wave at everyone sitting in their parade spots than actually watching the parade :) 

Once it started, she was pretty tired. Every time a band would go by, she would bounce up and down a little- it was super cute. And she LOVED the horses. 

Snuggle time with dad :)
We left right after this. The parade wasn't over, but Eila was so tired, we wanted to take her home and let her sleep. 

I love fireworks and was worried that I wouldn't get to see any! 

But it turned out great! I could see the professional ones and I could see professional sized ones shooting off in all directions around me. I was surrounded and it was awesome. 

Eila slept in until 8:00 (she usually wakes up at 6:00)  and then we had a very lazy morning spent in our jammies, reading books with Auntie Molly.

Independence Day

Independence day is definitely one of my top favorite holidays. It includes almost all of the best components a holiday should be made of. 

1. Anticipation: 

In Menomonee Falls, if you want a spot for more than 4 people, you need to "camp out" the day before to stake your territory. I feel a little crazy when I do it each year, but it secretly is fun :) Some people actually camp out- they bring campers and park by their spot and stay their over night. My family lives near by, so we drive by and when it starts to get a tiny bit busy, we sit by our spot. This year, my mom started spot-saving at 2:30 (earliest ever), a family friend joined at 3:00, I came over around 3:30, and another family friend got their a little after 4:00. You need to stay by your spot until 7:00 pm. 

At 7:00 pm, this happens: 

People rush across the road to the median, so they can set up their spots. You can't put anything on the grass until 7:00 and then leave it over night. We always you a patriotic shark to mark our spot.




2. Family and friends:
My siblings come home, family friends get together, and I love it!

This is only part of the group.

My brother, Sean, and I. 

3. The America-Off

Our fourth of July group started a tradition of having a competition to see who could be "most American". That was the theme we followed last year, and it was a little to broad. This year, we picked a more specific theme (still under the category of most American): The Amendments. We dress up and then anyone who dresses up with us gets to vote for a winner. This year, my sister Molly won. She was the amendment that says no cruel and unusual punishments allowed. 

4. The Parade:

I love parades.  

Meagan and I are dreaming about when we can be part of the dancing grannies :) 

5. Fireworks:
I also love these.

 6. Treats:
My dad makes "Chicken with the 4th of July sauce" which is pretty much just grilled chicken with this garlicy-curry-mayonaise sauce and  red, white, and blue trifle. It's a tradition and they are both oh so delicious!

This picture is old- Dan and I went to Alaska for a summer a few years ago and of course I had to make trifle while we were there! 

I hope you had a good Independence day!