We celebrated Independence Day in style this year, complete with a neighborhood parade and a family cookout with hot dogs and homemade ice cream!  David and I topped off the night with a kid-free date night that included dinner, fireworks, and a movie!  It was a hot day, but we enjoyed celebrating our country with some of our closest friends!

The parade was awesome!  There was so much candy flying from the people riding in the cars that we had to dodge a stray piece more than once!

Everywhere we looked we saw red, white, and blue!

The firetruck was a big hit with the kids!

After the parade we walked back to the Downings’ to fill our tummies!  Elliott was the last one to finish eating…in fact, he ate an entire hot dog!  I could not believe my eyes!

The kids played while the grown-ups got to talk.

And, of course we had to attempt a group shot of all of the kids…it gets harder and harder the older they get!  I crack up every time we try to do it.  11 kids, countless tears, a few escapees…

…and this is the best shot we got.

Some homemade ice cream and a hug was all he needed,

and Mr. E was all smiles again.

What a great day!  Hope your Fourth was as happy as ours was!