my favorite holiday

i have decided that the fourth of july is my favorite holiday. this year "sealed the deal" for me. it was a great holiday. we started our celebrating on the the third. we went to the local city park for their "sparks in the park" event - food, moonwalks, concert, fireworks & outdoor movie. we set up our blankets and chairs on one of the ball fields, between second and third base, at KFC chicken, played frisbee, waited in lines to have xander take a turn on the mega inflatable slide (he was a pro!) and an even longer line to get funnel cake! we had a great time. got their before the huge crowds and completely enjoyed the outdoors. xander has a fear of fireworks. has hated them and been terrified of them for the last three years. my intention was to get there early enough to have a semi-close parking space, so we could sit in the car and watch the fireworks with the radio up. that didn't work out. but grandma little brought ear plugs, which he gladly put in his ears thirty minutes before they were scheduled to start. we also gave him sprite, which todd told him made him brave. he kept in the ear plugs, covered his head with cassidy's blanket and then put his hands over his ears. but after a little coaxing from todd he peeked at the sky. the fireworks were being set off directly in front of us at the back of left field. we had perfect seats for the show. i loved it! xander liked it. and cassidy fell asleep during it. if you ask xander, he'd tell you that his favorite ones were "the christmas ones - red & green." we stayed for the movie after and did not get home until midnight.
the fourth dawned very early, early enough for us to make it to the ward pancake breakfast and parade. participants decorated bikes, trikes, scooters and wagons ...xander loved it so much that he did the parade route 3 times by himself. we spent the late afternoon eating and swimming at a friend's pool with several families from church, and then ended the evening early at home. xander had no desire to see anymore fireworks. he had filled his quota the night before, but todd and i sat on our front porch and watched the fireworks that the neighbors down the street were lighting, as well as two close subdivisions displays. it was good enough for me, and all from the comfort of my home.
pics to follow....as soon as i can link to todd's computer. it is being temperamental now.