Happy 4th of July!

We continued our 8-year tradition of spending the 4th of July attending the Kentwood parade and having brunch with our friends.  It was HOT HOT HOT out there today, but we found a shady spot and enjoyed the parade.

Elizabeth, Esther, Anna and Peter

Miriam and our neighbor Riley:

All the cuties in their patriotic gear, ready for the parade to start!

It was really too hot to play outside, but the kids convinced the dads to get out the pop bottle water rocket for a few minutes.

It's hard to believe we started this tradition when Esther was just 1, and Peter and Anna were in their moms' bellies!  I think Anna said it best today:  "I just love this little tradition!"   :) 

Click HERE for a post from 2007 with some pictures from the first few years!

Since it was so hot, we watched a movie in the afternoon.  Then we had a few of our neighbors over for burgers.  We ended the night by allowing our kids to stay up and go to the Kentwood fireworks for the first time ever.   Yes, they are deprived children who are usually forced to go to bed on time so as to prevent crabbiness.  Hopefully we don't regret this decision tomorrow, but they definitely loved the fireworks!  I'm sure this will now be a part of our July 4th tradition for years to come!