Celebrating Freedom

FREEDOM to watch our local fireworks as a family!

I took my kids to pick out a treat and drink of their choice to take to the fireworks.  We picked a spot, laid out a blanket, sprayed on some mosquito repellent and got cozy.  The fireworks began and Kam was busy doing what looked to be a stripper dance around the tree in front of us.  (Seriously? Do they show those kinds of things on iCarly?) Myles picked chunks of grass and threw them on everyone.  The hubs and I can't figure out why we even left our front yard.  Next year we'll stay home, put a blanket on the lawn, turn off all the lights and let them dance and pick grass in the comfort of our own yard.

FREEDOM to camp out in Nana and Papa's backyard.

FREEDOM to go to the 4th of July parade as a family!

FREEDOM to sit wherever the heck we wanted.  (Even if it meant the people behind us couldn't see and we blocked a crosswalk entirely.)

FREEDOM to play in Nana and Papa's backyard!

The kids were in heaven!  Why wouldn't they be?  There were 2 trampolines...

....a kiddy car wash,
(Squint real hard.  It's in the background.  My brother made it out of PVC pipe.  It was adorable.  There was water squirting out and sponges and streamers hanging down.)

a miniature water slide,

and this huge blow up ball that the kids had a "ball" rolling around in!  (Pun intended.)

Moose being Moose!  Up and Over. On. Jumping Back Off!

FREEDOM to play MINUTE TO WIN IT!

FREEDOM to light our own fireworks as a family!

FREEDOM to spend time with cousins!

FREEDOM to visit with my grandparents and my children's Great Grandparents!

I love this picture!  The picture on the left my niece snuck into the picture.  Look how annoyed Kam is.  Picture on the right...no niece.  Now look how happy Kam is.

I am so thankful to live in the country that I love and for the FREEDOM that I enjoy!  I'm especially grateful for the past, the present and the future men and women who sacrifice all that they have to keep our country free!

 

God Bless The USA!

Something Borrowed

My SIL who is a 5th grade teacher (God bless her soul) gave me this gift idea for my daughter's teacher.  I purchased a water bottle, a cute little ice tray, and some drink mix.  I wrapped it up in cellophane and tied it with some rick rack. It looked really cute.  You're just going to have to take my word for it though because I don't have a photo of the finished product.  My camera is a piece of poo remember?  Want to know a little secret?  Cellophane makes a simple, plain, ordinary gift look fab!  Try it!

We attached a cute note that said:

"Thank you for "QUENCHING" Kam's "THIRST" for knowledge!

Isn't that adorable?  Thanks SIL for the great idea!

I know that school is over but the gift idea itself would be really cute to give someone this summer.

You could say:

Stay cute and "COOL!"  Have a great summer!  Save some guys for me! 

(Okay...so maybe leave off the "save some guys for me" part.  I was just having flashbacks of when I signed yearbooks in junior high and high school.)

Or better yet...if your sayings are as lame as mine just give the gift wrapped adorably in cellophane.

This is another idea along the same lines that we gave our kids birth mom's last year for Mother's Day!  

I started with a container of Great Value drink mix equivalent to Crystal Light.  (I promise this is one time that the no name is as good as the name brand.)

 

I wrapped it in some cute scrapbook paper, put it in a cute bucket with an ice tray and a sparkly butterfly pick.  I also threw in some chocolates that you can't see.

Wrapped it up in the magical cellophane, tied it with a ribbon, and it's ready to be gifted!  See how cute the cellophane made it?

(This one was put in a basket instead of a bucket.)

Enjoy your summer!  And remember...You are totally rad and 2 Cute 2 B 4 Gotten!