Celebrate: 4th of July

 

I can honestly say that this 4th of July might go down in history {at least MY history} as being the best EVER! We had so.much.fun! Not to mention the fact that we’ve been looking forward to it for over a year now! The kids have literally been talking about it for.ev.er! And I am SO glad it lived up to our expectations!

6 hours in a car. With 4 kids. It wasn’t too bad. Except for our little parrot we brought a long. Did you know that Parleigh can squawk just like a parrot? But louder? And for longer periods of time? Who would have thought!

I guess I don’t watch the news enough. But apparently there were some terrible storms that came down the east coast. We missed them, thank goodness. And thank goodness the area we were headed to missed them to! What a bummer it would have been to get up there and have no power! I have never seen so many power trucks at one time! :)

After you turn off the main road headed to the "farm”, you only have about a 3/4’s of a mile left to go on a windy 1 1/2 lane road. {At least it’s paved!} We were excited to turn a bend and see Papaw coming around the corner on the golf cart. The kids got out and rode the rest of the way with him!

We got our beds set up, let the kids run around, and then headed into town for some pizza! {And some games!}

Another reason the kids have been looking forward to the trip to the mountains….roasting marshmallows!

We had to build a “ring” around the fire. Our kids aren’t used having a fire and haven’t learned that you can’t walk through it! Ha!

We made a believer out of Donna! I had never met someone who didn’t like s’mores. Until her. But now…I think I can say, “I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like s’mores!!”

 

We woke up to a gorgeous morning on the 4th. I knew we needed to snap a couple of pictures of the kids before they got dirty from breakfast and the parade, and whatever else we decided to do!!

These kids crack me up. All I wanted was for them to look at the camera. Preston’s whistling, Paisley’s trying to pick her nose with her tongue, and Parleigh won’t sit still! Ah!

We were all matchy-matchy. You know you are jealous! :)

Breakfast at Aunt Bea’s. {That’s Aunt, as in awwwnt, not ant! We’re in the south now, ya hear?}

We got so excited when we saw this truck! Most likely it is a relative, since this area is where the Lineberry’s are from!

 

The town of Independence hosts Grayson county’s 4th of July celebration. They have booths set up and an amazing parade. We walked around a bit before finding a spot to watch the parade.

Can you tell me what is wrong with this sign?

The kids got snow cones. What’s the 4th of July without a snow cone?

It started to get hot, so we headed back to the farm so the kids could go play in the creek. {Pronounced creeeek, not crick!}

Brrr! They sure did have fun though!

 

Every once in a while Paisley will “pose” for the camera instead of giving it her normal glare. :) I sure do love her!

It is so calm up in the mountains. I love it up there. There’s no where to go. And so much fresh air. And no noise. And so green!

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The fireworks started at 10pm, with a free concert before. We got there early to get a good seat, let the kids run around and play, and enjoy some dessert!

 

Seriously, I don’t think we could have gotten any closer to see the fireworks! And I don’t think I would have wanted to! There was a couple of time I SWEAR they were going to land on us! I’m not kidding!

I’ve never been so exhausted! We didn’t get back to the farm til after 11, and had to give the kids a bath. They were filthy! And then we were up early the next morning ready to drive home!

We packed a lunch and ate it at “Lover’s Leap”. {We found a picnic area with overlooks so we didn’t have to be right by the road with cars zooming by!}

In case you didn’t know, if you take the strap off of your overalls, you instantly become a hillbilly. {The biggest compliment you can give Preston! He informed me that “I love hillbillies! I want to be one!” Said in his most country accent!}

There were blackberries everywhere up there! Yum!

We survived 12 hours of driving with a squawking parrot, er, I mean Parleigh. The other kids did great! It was such a fun trip! We made tons of memories, and hopefully this will be a new tradition!