it's independence day!

We had a fun-filled 4th of July. It started early (for me). I did a 5k first thing in the morning. For some reason I was thinking the start time was later than it actually was (7am), so I was pretty tired. So tired, in fact, that when I got to the race I realized I forgot my bib and timing chip. A woman asked if I wanted to walk with her, so we kept each other company as we jogged through Old Town Lenexa.

When I got home we ate breakfast, then headed back to Old Lenexa for the community parade. The kids are funny about parades. They like parades until we are at one. Typical.

Will really liked the army band. Lauren was pretty freaked out by the shriner clowns and never really recovered.

That afternoon we had a few friends over for a small barbeque. Everyone brought their own meat and a side to share.

 Lauren was a scavenger and tried to eat off the abandoned plates.

After eating we went to our friends' house to set off a few fireworks.

obligatory family holiday pic

Each family had bought some poppers, so we spent a good while letting the kids make some noise. Then the adults brought out a few bigger fireworks and the kids retreated to the lawn.

Lauren loves being a "big kid." Our friend Drew did NOT like the smell of the smoke bombs. He was so cute sitting on his chair, holding his nose.

I wasn't sure if he would be up to it, but Will loved the sparklers. He was so focused on his sparkler that he wouldn't look up for a picture.

After our firework fun we met up with my mom and sister to watch the city fireworks. There is a golf course attached to my parents' neighborhood with a great view.

 
Lauren was so hopped up on sugar (I think she had eaten 6 twizzlers) and sleep-deprived that she kept bouncing back and forth between my mom and me throughout the entire show.