Home Town 4th of July, 2012

We had a great time celebrating America's 236th birthday at home this year.  However, it did feel a bit odd since we are usually out of town for the holiday.

(I'm talking 10+ years of being out of town for the 4th!)

Seriously.

Check it out.

2001

Garden Valley, Idaho (no helmet law)

(my fiance/almost husband and I both lived in Eugene, OR)

2002

Crouch, Idaho

(my husband of one year and I lived off of Barger in Eugene, OR)

2003

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

(I'm pregnant but do not know it...still living in Eugene, OR.)

2004

Uncle Steve & Aunt Carol's house 

Eagle, Idaho

(baby Lauren, Matt and I still live in Eugene, OR)

2005

MeMa & PaPa's house 

Garden Valley, Idaho

(we call Newberg, Oregon home now...but not for long)

(also I'm pregnant again but do not know it yet)

2006

Garden Valley, Idaho

(baby Tyler, 2 yr. old Lauren, Matt, and I now (and still) reside in a suburb of Atlanta)

2007

suburb of Atlanta

Wait!  That's my living room.  I guess we were home for one 4th of July in the last 10 years.

(how cute are L and T?!)

2008

Garden Valley, ID

(Tyler, MeMa, PaPa & Lauren)

2009

Miramar Beach, Florida with Uncle Brian!

 2010

Boise, Idaho

(cousin Madison, Tyler, and Lauren)

2011

Horseshoe Bend, Idaho

***2012***

Hometown Holiday

We started off our day by watching the local parade

and pretending to be Chick-Fil-A cows.

"Eat mor chikin."

We have great friends!

lots of people and golf carts flanked the parade route

 You'll have to take my word that we saw a parade because we didn't take any pictures.

It was obviously fun and exhausting because Tyler and Daddy took a midday nap.

 Late afternoon we met up with our friends again to watch the fireworks.

Pizza and soda for dinner

and balloons for dessert.

Tyler learned how to blow up a balloon.

And he went a little crazy.

My friend (former friend?) had the nerve to post an unedited version of the picture below on her facebook page.  She called it:

"Random Rednecks"

This picture actually cracks me up so maybe I won't "unfriend" her after all.

Hanging out with FlagMan

(Tyler chose not to participate in the picture)

Finally...

FIREWORKS!!

It was definitely a fun Fourth of July but it still felt like something was missing.

(like family!)

I wonder where we'll be July 4, 2013?!