Happy Birthday America!

A few days before the 4th of July, Alix and I were driving in the car. She wanted to know what the holiday coming up was, and why we celebrate it. I gave her the 5 year old version of our history and explained that the 4th is basically the birthday of America. She really latched on to that idea! She insisted that we have a birthday cake at the bbq we were hosting. I figured if we can make a birthday cake for Jesus every Christmas, we can do one for America too...

Anyway, on the 3rd we left the two babies (Jonathan and my sister's baby Kristine) with my mom, and we took the girls to see fireworks at Murray Park. We got there early enough that we just wandered trying to get closer and closer to the action. We saw a big hill and decided to see if the top would be a good spot. As it turned out, we ended up on the rugby field at the top of the hill. We were 20 feet away from the caution tape and laying flat on our backs the fireworks were right above us. The girls LOVED it!!!

The next day on the actual 4th, we had Tim's family over for a bbq. It was funny because we already had my niece Kristine there since we were still babysitting her, but then we ended up with my parents, her parents (Jill and Brad), and Lyndall there as well. It confused the little girls a bit since we'd said it was our Dieckmann family coming over and we had a bunch of Packs there too... it was fun though. And it was nice that Jill and Brad came home and got their baby... She was fun, but five kids five and under for a week was difficult- especially since both babies decided to become mobile in my non-childproof house!


(on a side note can I tell you how much I LOVE our deck?!? We had three tables full of people and food, plus a porch swing, and there was still enough room the kids were riding tricycles around...)


After everyone left that night, Tim set up a tent in the back yard. He and the girls decided to have a holiday camp out! They got in the tent and had a hard time settling down because they were so excited. But, lots of stories and songs helped. A few trips inside for forgotten "necessities" and a few potty trips later, everyone was settled in for the night. Until Miriam told Daddy she didn't want to sleep outside. He brought her in to her bed, where she immediately went to sleep, and he went back out to find the other girls we about out too. They had a good time (and have been begging to do it again ever since...)

L to R- Alix, Tim, Miriam, Bethany


Sweet Alix

Sweet Miriam

Sweet Bethany

The girls sure love story time!


Hee, hee.... while I was out there taking pictures Miriam informed me she needed to go potty then proceeded to drop her drawers and walked inside that way. I just couldn't resist :)