The 4th with our 4

4th of July is such a big deal here. It is all about hanging out with family and friends and staying close to home for the Catonsville Parade and fireworks. A local realtor puts flags in every yard each year and it really puts me in a patriotic mood. Chairs get lined up along the parade route days in advance and you can see floats being put together in people's driveways throughout the neighborhoods.


This year Emma and Rachael were both asked to walk in the parade. Emma wasn't sure at first but then agreed to be a part of the Youth Soccer League float. Rachael and I helped put the float together for her school. It was the school's 10th birthday so we made a huge blue birthday cake.

On the morning of the 4th we relaxed and the girls helped me make red white and blue Popsicles out of jello and whipped cream. They like to watch the powder turn bright colors. So do I. With Popsicles on a tray, fireworks, and bags of sunglasses, sunscreen and water bottles and sweat shirts we headed out. We dropped Emma and Rachael off at their meeting places after we wove through local streets full of people. Then with melting Popsicles Jim found a route around many blocked off roads to get to Becky and Erik's house. They have hosted a 4th party for many years now and are with in walking distance of the parade route and fireworks. So we unloaded there, lathered up and went to find a spot to sit.



The parade started with the fire trucks sounding their sirens. Poor Bridget did not like the noise and covered her ears. We settled the wagon into a spot in the shade at the end of the route. Bridge and Megan enjoyed the bands and floats and occasional candy. Bridgey especially liked any of the mascots. Rachael's float was #45 in the parade and Megan spotted her coming in plenty of time for me to get pictures. Rae was obviously having a blast riding on the float with her friend.


After she went by Jim walked to pick her up. She came back with her water gun which she had used to spray people with along the route. On the way back Jim enjoyed using the water gun. We told Rachael she was only allowed to squirt people on floats that had water guns. Rachael was smart and waited until a float was by us before squirting. Rachael got a boy and man on one float with guns only to realize that he had a huge super soaker and great aim. She loved it!













Emma rode on the cover of a rear wheel of a 1928 truck and threw out little hackey sack balls for the soccer league. She rode in style with her new sunglasses on. Bridge and Meg enjoyed waving to her. Jim walked down to retrieve her from the #85 float. She came back with stories of seeing lots of people she knew along the parade route.


We headed back to the house and got ready for the cookout. Uncle Ed made a bottle launcher which was a huge hit. They took turns launching bottles and soaking themselves in the process. After dinner when all of the kids were distracted by other things Bridget tried her hand at the launcher. She had stayed away when the big kids were at it but she obviously had paid attention. She filled the bottle with water and put it on just as she had watched the others do. Then she pumped the bicycle pump. It was really cute. She got some cousin help and launched a bottle.

When it was darker but not too dark we pulled out the boxes and boxes of sparklers and a bucket of water. The cousins had a great time. Sarah did it for the first time and even after burning her hand a little wanted to continue holding sparklers. Bridget was not ready to give it a go but watched happily.


Rachael had gotten soaked from the bottle launcher so Emma, who brought a whole change of clothes along just in case she needed a different outfit, lent Rae clothes because by now the sun was going down and Rae was freezing. We all put on Sweat shirts and went to the nearby field to watch fire works. It was 9:30 and Bridget was asking to go home. I held her on my lap, helped her cover her ears and shortly she fell asleep. I realized it had been a very long time since any one of my girls fell asleep on me and it was really nice. All 4 of them fell asleep in the short car ride home. It was a great 4th of July.