Little Firecrackers

We rang in this fourth of July weekend with a bang.  Many late nights and many fun activities made both Bennett's 1st birthday and this holiday definitely one to remember.

The kids started off the holiday playing together on the trampoline.  We all learned that Bennett loves to jump, especially with his brother and sister.

Next up was an evening celebration with friends and family at a local festival.  Connor and Corynn were thrilled to get works of art painted on their arms.  They waited patiently in line for their creations. 
 
The carnival rides were the highlight of the evening.  By far the swings were the favorite.

The next ride they decided on was the fighter jet.  They jumped in their seats, grabbed their guns, and started off on the ride of their lives.

That is until Connor started screaming and crying.  We didn't know what happened, but all we knew was that he wanted off.  Unfortunately, this was the longest ride and showed no signs of stopping. We all had to laugh at the situation especially when we watched them go around and around with the front passenger screaming and the back passenger smiling and laughing.  When the ride stopped, we gave our little man a hug as he told us his safety belt became unhooked during the ride and he was afraid he was going to fall out.



 The fear didn't last long, though, as they embarked on another go around with friends.

This was the first year we bought fireworks for the kids.  As we drove around town, they pointed out every sale tent so we knew we had to make a stop. They loved throwing and stomping on the pops.  They also managed not to hit each other with them too.



They had a blast running and capturing parachutes as they fell from the sky.  Surprisingly we never pulled out the sparklers, but there is always next year.

For the actual 4th, we headed to Hermann for hopefully less crowded festivities and to stay at the farm overnight for the first time as a family.

Bennett watched the kids play in the tree house and even attempted to climb up, but decided eating it was an easier option.

Part of the days events was a turtle race.  We had Papa go on the hunt for a winner.  The kids loved their turtle and we put racing colors on it so we can see ours fly to the finish.  We discovered quickly that our turtle may have not been the racing type, though.  Combined with the fact that ours never moved and meeting friends who picked up a ringer at a local gas station, we figured it best to not enter the race and release CK into the wild. 

 

Next was some relaxing time at the brewery in town before we got our sugar rush at the parade.  The kids may not be old enough to enjoy these frosty beverages, but they are quickly becoming experts at cracking peanuts.

The candy filled parade put smiles on all the kids faces.  Connor and Corynn rushed to scoop up all the strewn candy.  Connor picked up any sweet morsel in sight, while Corynn picked up the ones she liked leaving all tootsie rolls for anyone else who came along.  I don't really blame her and it is good to have a girl who knows what they want:) Bennett, on the other hand, loved seeing the horses.  His face lit up anytime one walked by.

It was now time to check out the riverfront and find our seats for the big firework show.  The kids did great waiting and staying up late for the colors in the sky.  It probably didn't hurt having friends and bright glow sticks to play with, and Mom and Dad, well they had some special beverages to pass the time.

 
We ended the evening back at the farm.  The kids rushed up to the loft to choose their bed selection for the evening, and by kids I mean Dad too.  He was so excited to have his family at the farm for a night, which I am sure is one of many.

The weekend wrapped up with a fishing trip with their cousins.  All the kids helped dad get the poles ready in the hopes of catching a fish.

 

And catch fish they did.  Some of the poles weren't in the water 30 seconds and there bobber was already gone with a fish hooked.  They couldn't believe it and neither could we.  Hopefully their expectations aren't set too high for the next fishing excursion.

 Happy 4th of July