Fun on the Fourth

We had a fabulous 4th of July. Forget the apple pie, the boys enjoyed their favorite All American treat...the Slurpee. We played in the water, enjoyed a yummy BBQ dinner, and the fireworks are always a hit. Brody is still not a fan of the loud noises that those fabulous fireworks produce but at least he wasn't holed up in the car watching them this year. We can't let this holiday(or any other day) pass by without expressing how very grateful we are for the men and women who serve our country on a daily basis. Their service allows us to live in this great land and to enjoy the many freedoms that we do. So very grateful and thankful.

This is this weeks Kit of the Week at Green Tangerines. I am happy to report that those are photos from this years 4th of July, all scrapped. Am I allowed to say "go me?"










There are kits available for this layout at Green Tangerines. All you have to do is provide your own photos and purchse the kit and you can get your 4th of July photos scrapped in a heartbeat.

Fun on the 4th of July

We love the 4th of July! I especially loved that it landed on a Sunday! At 1st I wasn't too thrilled that one of our biggest party days of the year was on a Sunday. Once we got to church and sang Patriot songs as a congregation...my heart began to swell with Pride. I am so thankful to live in this great land. I am so thankful to be raising a family in a land that allows me the freedom to bring these boys up how I choose and see fit. I am thankful to live in a land that allows me to worship as I please, when I please. I am so thankful for the men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis to see that I enjoy those very freedoms. It really was the perfect way to start our 4th of July! Once we were done with church, everyone took naps. AAAAHHHHH...loving that Sunday tradition.

From there, we headed over to our friends, the Solano's house. They are a family, who has 4 boys too! We love hanging out with them any chance we get.

The boys decided that their red, white, and blue shirts weren't patriotic enough. With the help of Kristin's craft supplies, they took it upon themselves to decorate a little bit more.









We enjoyed an evening filled with yummy food, fabulous friends, live dinner theatre, Nerf gun wars, tons of dessert and fireworks. This 4th of July will go down as the year that Brody did not like the fireworks and had to pee every 5 minutes...even if it meant dropping his drawers on the patio in front of everyone :-). That is potty training at its finest.

We hope you had a Happy and safe 4th of July!

fun on the 3rd of July

Or what Tanner likes to call his half birthday party (He is catching on, Katie).
We enjoyed a super fun afternoon/evening with friends.

We swam.


We caught air.



















We ate...and we ate.


We had endless water fights.



We made our kids pose for photos...of course we did!


We had fun hanging out with our friends.





We lit Sparklers and watched fireworks.

We had a blast!
Thanks for the fun afternoon/evening Sugden Family!

celebrating the 4th

I love the 4th of July! The colors just make me happy. I love to drive around town & see all of the flags waving proudly in the sky. I am very grateful for the freedom I enjoy as an American. I am very grateful for those great men & women who serve/have served to protect those very freedoms. Grateful for a holiday that reminds me to remember & appreciate this great land that we live in.
We spent the day in San Jose with family. Here ae a few highlights from our Independence Day.

We started the morning off by picking up some fire works. We are still amazed(even 6 1/2 years later) that you can purchase fire works here. There are stands, literally on every corner. You don't see this in San Jose so I had to snap a picture of John waiting in line.














The 4th of July festivities were held @ my parents house this year. My boys were so excited to see their cousins. They sure do have a great time playing together. They played all day long, moving from one activity to the next.

First up, the slip n slide. I think they spent a good chunk of the day enjoying the slip n slide.














Then the kids(and some adults, Sommer & my Grandma) enjoyed the cake walk on the drive way.















Carter enjoying his Cake Walk winnings!















Up next, was the water balloon volleyball. I have to get those pictures from my sister. We let the kids start the volleyball game off. It lasted for about, oh two minutes(as we knew it would). That game quickly turned into a HUGE water balloon fight. The entire family got into it, whether you wanted to or not :-). This photo is blurry but I love it. This is my Mom throwing a water balloon at me-LOL!


















My Mom, Dad, Carter & I filled a ton of water balloons for the party. Once the whole family got in on the water fight, those balloons went fast. Once the balloons were gone, the kids started resorting to the buckets & cups...smart boys.

















Chuck & Bandi thought they could avoid the water if they hung out on the kids toys-LOL!















**Warning, lots of pictures coming! It is so hard to narrow down all of my photos, they all become my favorites.


First up, my Grandma & Grandpa Shore. I love these two faces. They are the most amazing, caring people you will EVER meet!


















John & Brody. Be still my heart. You can just feel the love between them!














The boy cousins drying off in the sunshine!















My Mom & her brother, Uncle Wade.














My cousin, Kerstin & myself
















Sommer, Me, Kerstin & Amber














Our cute boys














Her are all of the cousins. Do you know how hard it is to get a shot like this -LOL?
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We ended the night with Sparklers in the front yard. We were a little bummed this year. One of our favorite 4th of July traditions was canceled this year due to budget cuts. The city of San Jose did not have their annual fireworks display, BOO! We were able to enjoy the Milpitas fireworks from the freeway on our ride home. We sure are thankful for another fun holiday spent with family!

Happy 4th of July

This holiday ranks right up there with Christmas in my book. Maybe it's the colors? Or maybe it is the entire day spent with family? One thing I do know for sure is that I am so proud to be an American. I am so very grateful to have been given the chance & blessing to grow up & live in this free land. I am so thankful for all of the many men & women who serve & protect our country. I am very blessed & for that I am PROUD, GRATEFUL, & so very THANKFUL!

We spent the 4th of July @ my parents house with my Mom's side of the family. The kids played baseball on the front lawn, they had squirt gun fights, they played on the slip n slide, we had a yummy BBQ, strawberry shortcake & 4th of July cupcakes for dessert, wore our 4th of July t-shirts or red, whites, & blues, lots of photos, we enjoyed sparklers in the front yard, watched the HUGE firework show downtown, Grandpa treated the grand kids to the glow necklaces & bracelets, & then the long ride back home. We rolled into our driveway @ 12:30 am this morning. We are exhausted but love the memories we have made. We hope each & every one of you had a safe & Happy 4th of July.

**Lots of photos below.