Grateful and Blessed.

Quite a day of celebrating it was.
Threw the kids in the car first thing in the morning, to start off the day with donuts at Marianos. Because, why not?!

Phew, they had one with patriotic sprinkles!

And chocolate frosting of course!

This big boy was just 'one of the gang' hanging with the big kids at the local parade.

The little guy had a perfect (safe) vantage point from up on Daddy's shoulders

We were certainly grateful that it wasn't 80 million degrees.

It was fun to be a part of something that morning...lining the streets with so many other families, all feeling grateful to be living in this country. Cheering the veterans, saluting the flag, appreciating our freedom and our home.

I loved seeing the excitement in our son's eyes, the foot-tapping, the diving for candy, the right hand thumping over his heart, the head-nodding and dancing

And of course, just the summer-time vibe of the whole thing. Scents of sunblock, sounds of drum-beats, sights of batons twirling, and chubby baby feet in summer flip-flops

After the parade, some nice cool-down/calm-down book reading before naps.

We had a fun Independence Day Celebration, and hope you did too.

I look forward to the day when my children truly understand the meaning of that flag, and truly cherish those veterans rolling by...but for now, we can only begin to teach them.

Salute that flag.

Don't let it touch the ground.

And always be grateful for the freedom it represents.