The Best Fourth

We had a week full of swim, preschool play dates, mystery shop dates with the kids, and making lots of packing lists.

On Wednesday we stayed out late on the street with all our neighbors. The kids are having so much fun running around together this summer.  I asked our neighbor who's worked as a police officer here for 25 years where he'd recommend watching the fireworks. He said, "You know what, put your chairs in my car right now. Then drive downtown tomorrow and call me when you get to the police barrier."

So he set up our chairs hours before the show right along the water, and then coned off a parking spot for us behind the barricades at the fire station, right by where they launch the fireworks. It was incredibly kind of him and we had an absolute blast having such a smooth Fourth with our kids. This was our first time braving the fireworks and we were totally spoiled.

I loved holding Camden on my lap and watching the fireworks, and listening to Asher just burst with excitement every single time one flew into the sky. Westin and Bennett sat in their chairs by us with glow sticks and wide eyes. And I just thought, these are going to be my favorite Fourth of July nights. It won't be long before they want to be with their friends for fireworks and barbecues. But right now, we're all together, and I just love their magic ages so much. They all love some of the same things right now and it's just so fun to show them the world. 

I'm so grateful to raise these boys in a free and safe country. We're so lucky.

Slowing down with this little guy is one of my favorite parts of every day.

The boys each got to choose a free book at the library for part of the Summer Reading Program they've been doing, and Asher saw this one and immediately wanted it. "Daddy work!"

The soccer watching continues.
As does the family room penalty kick challenges.

Waiting for brothers to be done with swim.
Luna is such a good girl.

Our neighbor is retiring after 25 years as a police officer.
The boys just love his undercover car on our street, so they were sad to learn it was going away.
He was kind to show them the lights one more time, hand out stickers, and let Westin say,
"Mom, I need ice cream!" over the car speaker system haha.

So many kids on our street! We've had 5 kids 8 and under move in the last two months,
plus the crew that was already running around. The summer nights are hopping.

Face paint at our ward pancake breakfast.
Eliza gave them red and white and blue stripes which, you know, looks just like the French flag :)

He loved his balloon puppy so much.

A sword and a belt. Camden was ready for anything.

Last year we ran to the parade after our ward breakfast and it was great.
We did it again this year and two families joined us,
and the kids had so much fun watching together.

Asher is all about all the big vehicles.

Our Fourth crew! We barbecued with them plus some other families later in the day as well.
So grateful for good friends.

Besties.

Our friend brought a rocket launcher and some rocket supplies to the barbecue and the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. Camden was the champions rocket guy.

The night before, when we were out with all our neighbors, I asked our neighbor where he'd recommend watching the fireworks.
He said, "You know what, put your chairs in my car right now. Then drive downtown tomorrow and call me when you get to the police barrier."
So he set up our chairs hours before the show right along the water, and then coned off a parking spot for us behind the barricades at the fire station, right by where they launch the fireworks. It was incredibly kind of him and we had an absolute blast having such a smooth Fourth with our kids. This was our first time braving the fireworks and we were totally spoiled.

We had a glow stick breakage situation,
Westin didn't think it was very funny when we joked it might be his origin story
and give him super glowing powers.
To be fair, his eye was stinging quite a bit... but he told me he'd probably laugh later.

My fireworks buddy. He LOVED them,
and really loved when red and green fireworks would go off together and he'd yell,
"Christmas Eve!"
This kid.

Asher was ECSTATIC and loud and animated through 90% of the show, counting all the fireworks (incorrectly) and labeling their colors (incorrectly) loudly and happily. Two year olds, man. 
The best. The worst. The best.

Our sweet neighbors. They were so nice to save us a spot for the show.
He was emotional during his last night as a police officer. He has been in charge of event security for years and years, and this fireworks show was the end of a long career.
Such good people.