Backyard BBQ on the Fourth

Our fun on the fourth continued as we enjoyed a backyard BBQ with several couples from our church. Our evening included splashing in the pool, delicious eats, toddler and baby snuggles, and outdoor fun with friends. 

{Eva Mae, Georgia, Aubrey, Audrey, Evelyn, and Westin}

I love watching their sweet little interactions and their social play.

Our menu was absolutely delicious. Our eats included chips and salsa, a fruit platter, watermelon, deviled eggs, cheese cubes, grilled chicken, ribs, and festive red and blue buntinis.

 {I loved making these cute buntinis with the huband. They seemed to be a real success with the adults and the babes.}

{Sweet Watermelon Face}

{Water Splash Fun}

Miss Eva Mae surely loved herself some watermelon or meli melon as Aubrey calls it. My little may have come behind her a few times to take a bite or two including the rind.

After dinner, the kiddos gathered around the water table, pool, and swing set for some good ole baby play and exploration time. From 2 pools, a slide, water buckets, bubbles, paint brushes, pool toys, balls, and over sized chalk, these play pals had so many fun play options.

{Eva Mae-2, Evelyn-10 months, Audrey 21 months}

 

{Evelyn, the sweet water baby- 10 months}

 {Auby and her play things}

 

{Audrey's chalk play}

{Aubrey & Evelyn}

{Audrey rock'n the shade}

{Denise & her Little}

{Matt & Ray}

{Westin & Aubrey "painting" the slide}

{The kids are having a ball}

{Sisterly Love}

{Chu Chu Wa Fun}

 {Daddy Daughter Love}

 

{Summertime Swinging}

Our fourth fun was filled with great celebration with friends. We are so thankful for these freedoms. For the opportunity to share this family time and for those who gave it all to make this possible. Happy Birthday America!

Happy Birthday America: Downtown McKinney Parade 2015

Red, White, and Boom Fourth
At 9AM on Saturday morning we had arrived in downtown McKinney for their hometown 4th of July parade. We made our way near the courthouse to find seating for the upcoming parade. We quickly retreated to the opposite side as the sun began to make its way over the buildings and make the morning a bit hotter than desired. After a short walk around the square, a play time in Auby's stroller, and a few photo opts,

{Daddy & daughter on the fourth}

 {Walking around the square}

our good friends, the Ogles, joined us for the mornings festivities. I love these sweet little friends. It was fun to share our morning together in celebration of America's Birthday.

 {Eva Mae- 2 years & Auby 21 months}

 {Sharing some goldfish- Thank you Eva Mae for the fishy snack}

After another walk around the square, a fishy snack, some great conversation with our friends, and two sweet flags for the babes, the parade began! 

Veterans, police officials, fire fighters, lots of kiddos, horseys, goats, mini themed dressed pups, old classic cars, and even Lady Liberty herself made a debut at the parade.

 {Ray and Auby & Richard and Eva Mae} 

 

 

 

 {Richard, Eva Mae, Erin, and baby Georgia}

We loved getting to celebrate with our sweet Ogle friends. Thank you again for braving the heat and joining us for a fun morning of Red, White, and Boom. Happy Birthday America!

 Our Fourth Fun then and now.

Hometown Family Fourth Fun!

Happy Fourth of July! Our little family of three had a fabulous Fourth celebrating America's Independence Day in North Dallas. That morning, after an early play time with the babe, we enjoyed a red, white, and blue inspired breakfast.

We packed all the necessities... which for me means anything that may be necessary for the day. So after over packing to say the least, we got ourselves ready for the parade. After breakfast, we adorned our red, white, and blue and made our way to McKinney's hometown parade. This would be our first time to attend as well as to take little Miss. I have to say, it was so well organized and pretty amazing to see all the families. Crowds and lawn chairs lined the streets, children and parents dressed in their themed finest, and flags were being distributed to all. I loved it and baby did great! As we made our way to find a spot, we had to stop for some real lemonade. It was absolutely delicious and a perfect way to beat the morning heat.

 

{Can't beat fresh lemonade}

Ray found us a perfect little spot. Now I will use this disclaimer and say that this was during baby girl's morning nap and she was a bit hungry as we gave her a morning bottle before all the excitement began, but she really did great! I just loved her sweet July 4th themed outfit and shoes. Thanks Grammy and Papa Z. We definitely got our fair share of friendly comments from passers by.

 

 

Then it was time for the parade to start. From veterans, the mayor, the town beauty queen, old timey cars, girl and boy scouts, local businesses, horse riding, fitness clubs, and the like, we enjoyed seeing all that this sweet little downtown parade had to offer. Enjoy a few pictures of our little family watching the parade.

 



After the parade, it was definitely time for lunch. But what is more American than a burger? So we ventured over to Square Burger for lunch and dined with our friends, The Ogles. It seemed many had the same idea as we did. But boy is Square Burger delicious... absolutely worth the wait in my and my husband's opinion. So while we waited, the adults chatted and the little ladies played.

 {Erin, Eva Mae, Richard, and Aubrey}

{Richard and Aubrey fun}

{Eva Mae-12 months & Aubrey-8 months} 

 

The food was delicious and our lunch bunch was a lot of fun as well. We are truly thankful for such dear friends.

After we finished lunch and said our good-byes, we headed home to put our little one to bed, but she wasn't having it. Instead she learned that she loved her new toy... her baby bouncer. We also have been working on a few new words like "up" and "uh oh." I love how she mixes the two up from time to time. If we drop something we may get an "up." Baby language is all too cute. I did have to include this as it was just so darn precious and totally worth the eventually fussy no napping baby that we had on our hands that evening.

I could watch that sweet video over and over. I just love her little voice. Melt my heart for sure.

Well once we figured out that no nap would be had, we decided that we would continue our day of fun in the sun on this fourth and set up her baby pool.

The water felt absolutely great. We added a few of her little bath toys which she loved. She definitely does NOT want to be on her back and would so love to lay face first, if it didn't get wet. But once she gets going with splashing, she definitely enjoys herself. While I wasn't exactly a fan of the bugs, and we decided to watch our fireworks on the tv this year to not disturb baby girl's sleep, I have to say it was an absolutely fantastic Fourth with our little fam. Here is a fun picture of last year with little girl still inside my tummy compared to our fun family fourth with Aubrey. It's amazing how the years move on.