Happy Independence Day America!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday weekend, as we did, and had some time to spend with loved ones and remember those who are fighting, and have fought for the independence we have today!

We started off with a bang on Friday night.  We had some family and friends over for what was supposed to be a bonfire (and was sadly...with huge tears...missed by Bella).  The wind was outrageous.  Knock you over, can't hear the person next to you, but keeping the humidity at a bay windy.  So we had our grill going vs. cookin the wienies over the fire, and we all had a great time anyway.  My brother was home from Devil's Lake this weekend, so we wanted to take in as many things with him as we could.  The girls miss the other half of their uncle-duo (I have twin brothers), so any chance they get to hang out with both of them, and try to figure out which-is-which, promises good laughter and fun.

Little girls and 'older' girls, what's the deal.  My girls idolize my brothers' girlfriends and other girl friends.  And by idolize I mean hang-on-their-every-word, follow-them-around-annoyingly, sitting-practically-on-their-lap-at-every-function idolizing.  Was I like this as a little girl?  OK, I admit, I had to roll, pin and pull the socks over my jeans...just like my older cousins.  (ugh...I can't believe I just admitted this)  But was I this clingy?  Not sure that clingy is just the right word I'm looking for, but I just feel down right bad for these girls that my girls are 'attacking'!

OK, caught me again, I'm glad that I don't have to watch them like hawks when we're around our friends, because frankly, I enjoy a little break once and again.  I cherish these girls, more like women...just not wanting to admit to myself that I'm older than them and a mom to THREE!  They are my heaven.  They take my girls to movies.  And to Old McDonalds, like they like to call it 'round here.  And I love them for that.  I know that my girls are in great hands and I can't, nor will I ever be able to thank them enough for what they mean to me and my girls.

Now on to the next day of our exciting holiday weekend.  The only day that I had my camera with me, and the day that I filled my card up forgetting to unload it before Sunday...oops!

Horseraces!!!

It's not too often that I'm willing to take my girls, all of them, to a crowded place on a humid and hot day in the middle of summer...but with this group of people, I'd do just about anything.  So we headed off to Canterbury, in the middle of naptime I will add, to watch some horses run around a track and bet on names that sound cool and hope that we come out with more money that we came in with. 

I'm pretty sure this is Daddy's favorite part of the whole horse race experience...all he talked about last year!

Well we had fun, let's just keep it at that.  The girls love...screaming, yelling, whooping...love watching the horseraces.  And Maia did too.  After trying, and succeeding, to keep a one year old contained in a stroller for 4 hours, I was pretty proud of myself and our super fun day.  And it didn't end there...

We left Canterbury, a good hour from our house, early to swing home quick, refill coolers and pack up some blankets and lawn chairs and leave again, heading in the opposite direction for some 4th of July fireworks. 

And. They. Were. Awesome.

Bella and Kira sat, of course, in the midst of my brothers and the 'girls'...not to be seen hangin' with the 'rents.  Really, this is happening already?!  And Maia could have cared less.  She's not one for loud noises, and although they didn't seem to bother her, she just laid her head down and passed herself down the row of grown-ups till she landed on a comfy shoulder to rest her head on.

Rain rang in the 4th of July here on Sunday.  We were headed to our usual parade when it started down pouring...so we turned around and headed to my parents and decided to go bowling instead.  Who goes bowling on the 4th of July?!  We do!  We had a blast and the girls are definitely realizing it's just a bit harder to bowl in real life than it is on the Wii.  They'll learn, their daddy's in a bowling league...I'm sure they'll have no problem.

After that we just went back to my parents house and vegged out for the rest of the day.  Grilled out for supper, in true Independence Day style and tryed to survive, or bear at least, the sweltering heat and humidity.  They said it was supposed to leave last night...well it's still here today and it's not cool (literally).

Ah, and what does a family do on their 'day off' because of yesterday's holiday...yard work.  I know, we're real outgoing today, huh?!  To be honest, I've never been so beat and wiped out from a long weekend before.  The weekend, unusually, went by slow and that was just right for us.  We had a blast and hopefully the girls did too.  It didn't take them much to fall asleep tonight after going to bed LATE for 3 nights in a row and not sleeping in for a single morning this weekend.  Oh well, maybe when they get older...

Happy Independence Day to all of you!!!  And for this weeks special...up for grab is a $25 gift certificate for bekima knits!!!  All you have to do is comment here on one thing you (your family) did fun this past holiday weekend...and you're entered for your chance to win!  Get an extra entry for letting me know what your holiday 'traditions' are for the 4th of July (must be a separate entry)  Runs through Friday, July 9th at Midnight (CST) and winner will be chosen via random.org.

Have a fabulous week this week!  I'm looking forward to hanging with some fab girls this weekend at our Joy Gathering!!!