Independence Day

Better late than never! Last weekend, we headed up to Cartersville to start celebrating the Fourth. I made this Moon Pie Banana Pudding to bring along for our cookout. My roommate Stephanie figured out a recipe inspired by a dessert we had our getaway a few weeks ago! The only thing I did differently was add one layer of cool whip in the middle of the trifle. DELISH!

Jake and I ran the Peachtree Road Race Monday morning. We had a great time enjoying a HUGE Atlanta tradition, getting exercise, celebrating America, and each other'scompany! My earliest memory is of sitting in a stroller, eating animal crackers, and watching legs run by... apparently that was the Peachtree when I was 20 months old... or 2 1/2... one of those years.

We came back to our family up in Cartersville, and we found three very happy little girls

who had a big morning of parades and pre-parade breakfast partying with Jake's family and family friends while we were off running! I'm telling y'all, Cartersville knows how to do holidays. The Christmas and Fourth of July parades and festivities surrounding are just fabulous. After the parade, Abby Jane told me she saw "Big Bird, Clifford, and a cheese grater!" Betsy figured out Abby Jane was referring to Sponge Bob.

I love how casually Luke and Blythe are sporting their sunglasses!

Blythe's always got something in her hands...

One of the best things to do in the summer at Mimi and Bop Bop's is play with ice. An ice chest of ice can last five kids a. very. long. time.

Apparently ice is especially scrumptious when picked out of the grass and dirt.

Those are sparklers that Jake and Paul are trying to entice the kids with, I promise.

I won't be able to do the following story justice. In short, what started out as a ride around the block in Bop Bop's old truck that is mostly retired... became a 15 minute joyride with four parents and five children in the back... many calculations as to how much jail time we would do if pulled over...

then passing a police car that pulled out after us... and Ken pulling into an empty driveway like we lived there... good times, good times...

seriously, can you get much more illegal than this particular picture? Yes, she's standing up.

Jake set off a few fireworks, and the sparklers came back out after supper. Going to Abby Jane's first big fireworks show got shot down when the bottom dropped out and the thunder didn't stop. I think God decided he wanted to be our fireworks this year. And I have to hand it to Him, He put on a pretty good show on that July sky.

Thankful we are blessed enough to live in this country and celebrate our freedom! I have a thing about freedom, if you didn't know...