Independence Day

Our July 4th weekend was great. Saturday morning the girls were in the children's parade in Deltaville. Martha made a "Happy 100th Birthday, Deltaville" float out of their wagon. Libby and I went home for lunch and naptime while Chucky and Emma stayed in town for the big parade. We all met at 4 at the ballpark and set up our tailgating area, complete with our new camouflage easy-up tent. People thought we were kidding when we said, "Hey come visit us, we're just over there, under the camouflage tent!" We relaxed in lawn chairs, while the kids played on the blankets and went back and forth inside to watch the ballgames. The lights around the ball field went out and I pulled Libby onto my lap and Emma sat with Chucky. The first boom was loud, and I put my hands over Libby's ears. I looked over at Emma, and she had her hands over her ears, too. Libby was fussing and I held her ears tighter and bounced her on my lap. She settled down and watched the pretty fireworks. I love that moment on July 4th. No one is talking, we are all looking up, and if you're lucky, you have a kid on your lap, or at least one nearby. I realized that next year Libby will be three, and might not want to sit in my lap and be bounced. I know everyday might be the last day she wants to be rocked at bedtime. I do no take these moments for granted . . . at this point in my life I feel like I am doing what I was born to do.


The float for the children's parade. Maggie and Emma pulled while Mason and Libby rode in high style.



Emma and "Nannie"