Happy 4th!

Well, according to our original travel dates, we were supposed to leave for Ethiopia yesterday on the 4th but now I know why we had to wait until Thursday. We had an amazing day with lots of family time and getting to love on Jackson who will soon no longer be the center of attention.....It was really nice and very needed since I don't want to leave my baby for 8 days. We started out the morning at the neighborhood parade and I was a bad mommy and forgot the camera. You can imagine old cars, decorated golf carts, and kids on bicycles and in wagons with their flags and streamers. We sat with Jackson catching what we thought were smarties only to figure out after he ate a handful of them that they were bubble gum smarties......great. Then we headed home to pick up the camera and then off to my sisters where my family got together for a cook out and watching the boys in the baby pool.







Then we came home and took some naps, yep all of us. Then we went out to a local pizza place at the outdoor mall where Jackson indulged himself in macaroni and cheese. We walked over to cold stone for some ice cream and Jackson got to pick out his very own. He chose the blue cotton candy flavored one of course.

This is the face I get when I ask him to smile.....



eating ice cream with mommy.

last family picture with 3.

The outdoor mall was having a fun 4th celebration so we let Jackson hit the bounce house before we found a nice park to watch the fireworks from. He was pretty scared of the loud noises and curled up in Paul's lap but still liked it I think......He has been asking all day today to go and watch again tonight.

The park was down the street from the fireworks but a perfect place to watch from and not that crowded.





This is me sticking my arm out with the camera to take our picture......you should see the first 5 attempts.

So although I was disappointed to have our travel moved back a few days, I am so glad we got to spend this day with our boy! Now Thursday can not come quick enough. I can't wait to have my kids home together. Hope you had a great 4th!