Our HAPPY 4th of July!

This year we had Grandma and Grandpa Tolman with us for the 4th again. It has been funny how it has worked out that they have been here for the 4th for the past three years. It is never planned, but always works out. For example, the original reason there were here this year was so they could watch the boys while Tatiana and I went to Girl Scout camp and Nathan worked during the day, and so Connie could go to the dentist!

Our day started out with our annual flag raising ceremony and pancake breakfast at church. It is always such a nice way to start the holiday. Then we did our tradition of stopping off and buying our fireworks on our way home. Buy one - get one free on the day of!

When we got home we had our own flag raising ceremony. Our resident Webelos Scout led the color guard.

Nathan and the kids had fun setting off some smoke bombs and other "daytime" fireworks.

We bought the Old Navy flag tees this year and they kids painted and decorated their own sun visors for a craft project.

Our back yard dinner was red, white, and blue! We had shish kabobs, watermelon, blueberries, etc. It was very good!

After dinner our friends, the Nelsons, came over for fireworks. It was a highly entertaining evening. It is hard to take good pictures of firework action so not many turned out. Here is a sweet one of Nathan and Ben with some sparklers.

Happy Independence Day everyone! We are truly grateful for our freedoms and this beautiful country we live in!