So very happy to be able to spend Fourth of July in Huntsville this year. Mike got us all up and outside early for a family 5K run/bike up to the Monastery. Malan and Meri babysat Oscar for me so I could pull Emme in the bike buggy. (He was still asleep when it was time to go, and I was grateful to have a little bit of a lighter load. At 5 months pregnant, I get tired out so easily.) The ride to the Monastery was so beautiful. I rode there on my bike with friends just countless times as a kid and I loved riding it next to Jane on this morning and telling her about the little side paths and ditches we'd ride through, and the car repair shop where we would stop and get a can of pop. Perfect way to start the day.
After our ride it was off to Huntsville Town for the main events. We gratefully camped out for the parade on the Harris's shady front lawn. We loved seeing the cows and tractors and home made floats. It's just such a small town, sweet little parade.
Oscar quickly caught on that candy was being thrown all over the place, and nabbed his own fair share of dum-dums
Hello, cute cousins!
My patriotic crew. Caleb was stuck in Memphis. He got invited to a pool party with our friends the Marshalls and had at least two other dinner invitations, so luckily he was well taken care of. We missed him though.
After the parade, we popped through the alley to Jake and Rebecca Songer's house to see their daughter Solenne's new puppies. (It's so great that you can just pop through any alley in Huntsville and there's another really awesome family that you know and love. What a place.) Those puppies were just scrumptious. (Thank you, Edith, for the puppy pics.)
Then we all walked over to the park and camped out behind the McKay's shaved ice tent. Oscar took a solid two hour stroller nap, which was wonderful.
The girls walked around the park with their cousins, finding delicious comestibles, collecting cheap trinket souvenirs. . .
. . . and weaseling free face painting out of our dear Georgi's. That is some serious face painting talent, right there.
Lookin' so good, Emme.
Then it was back and forth between the park and the McKay's pool for most of the day. Loved catching up with a few friends I ran into, Victoria Froerer Green, Andrea Evans Hyatt, Christine Hirst and her girls, and others. Such good people. I lost track of most of my kids at some point as they took off here or there with cousins, and I got pretty worn out chasing Oscar around, but it was thankfully not too hot of a day and there were lots of helpers. So fun to hang out with my parents,Victoria and Mike, Katie and Joey, Edith and Casey, and the McKays, as well as my sister Sarah who was also parenting solo her four boys.
Gabe lit some pre-show fireworks for the kids in the back yard. Then when it got dark we all sat out around the pool to watch the big show over the park.
The kids think Huntsville 4th of July is just magical, and I have to agree. Good job, Huntsville. You just never, ever disappoint on this day.
5 comments:
Oh these pictures are all so pretty!!!! I love Oscar with his dumdum. Those bike ride pictures are dreamy. Sad we missed that. You were such a tough chick to do most of that vacation as a single mom. You captured the essence of Huntsville 4th. Way to be blogging!!! I love seeing these!!
Hello! It's been a long time since I've peeked in. Your kids have grown, and you have one on the way! What a cute family you guys are. Wish one of these days our trips to Utah would line up.
Way to go on the bike ride towing a child at 5 months along. You are super woman. I loved seeing pictures.
So good to read your blog. You continue to bring peace into my life. I loved the picture of you and Oscar with the puppy. That is successful mothering, right there.
We are always so sad to miss the Family 5K to the monastery. Maybe someday we won't be doing the Snowey and can play with y'all! But then, where would you all hang out at the park ;)
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