america the beautiful

There is something so special about patriotic songs. I just have to hear the first few notes and I am filled with such a sense of pride and love for this country we live in. I don't know if it is the pregnancy hormones but I have never been so touched by the beautiful, American hymns that we sing at church. I literally had to sit down and find a tissue before I had a major break down the Sunday after Independence Day. You should have seen me when the choir sang two weeks before that! I am usually not very political but I do have such strong gratitude to live somewhere that we can enjoy so many freedoms that others never even get the chance to see. We truly are blessed!

Caleb had the day off school on July 4 and it was a cooler, cloudy day so it was a lot of fun! We started by going on a walk to the park where Kade got to play and show Daddy how good he has gotten at going down slides and climbing up the jungle gyms.
(Kade is getting so big, so fast!)

We spent the whole day together and in the afternoon, we went to the Peoria Sports Complex where they had something called the "All American Festival". There were lots of things to do and see there, but for kids, they have lots of blow up water slides. Kade was too small for most of them, but he went down one size and seemed to love it! It was perfect because by this time, the sun had come back out and it was getting warmer and warmer. Now that I think about it, he probably loved just being able to run around the open fields just as much as he did the slides. We didn't bring a camera, so I was really glad we had friends there to snap a few photos.

This is right when the sun came back out but we had to make sure to get a picture of all three of us.

He was standing a little too close to one of the slides that had mud at the bottom when a little girl came flying down. He didn't even know what hit him!

Maybe it was one of those "you had to be there" kinds of things but it was hilarious when he turned back to face us and we noticed the mud.

They let me climb up with him so I could help him go down.

I said, "one, two three" and Kade (in true Kade fashion) said, "two, two, TWOOOO" and let go!

Daddy was at the bottom to catch him and help him get out.

Can you see that look in his eyes? He is determined to get right back up there to go down again!

When we were getting ready to leave the sports park, there were some jets that flew over. I can't really explain the look on Kade's face other than by saying that he was terrified and thrilled at the same time! He loved them but they were super loud. I am glad we at least stayed long enough for him to see those fly by. We left long before the fireworks knowing that he wouldn't make it that long anyway. 

Next, we stopped by a bbq that we were invited to and we got to see some good friends and eat some good food. Kade loves his friends and gets to excited when he sees kids his age. I love to watch him play with other kids and learn how to share and get along with everyone.

Caleb is the only one who made it to the fireworks outside without falling asleep but we all had a wonderful day as a family and loved every minute of it!