Independence Day

Since we live right next to a creek and our little neighborhood pool decided not to open this summer, we are finding ourselves out wading instead of swimming in the water and hunting down nature for cooling off entertainment.
4th of July afternoon we met the cousins and Grandmama for a "creek date." This is the first time Grandmama has joined us and it was so fun with her along. She is, after all, the person who is in charge of the Arkansas River Watershed and not only did we do a little exploring up and down the creek, we all got a little bit of a hands on education for the afternoon.

                                                         
                                                                     Collecting Snails
                                                                  

                                (Precious Jewel kept blinking and squinting...hence her lack of picture). ; )

                         It really was sweet to watch them help each other and discover new things together.

For dinner we met for the annual cookout held by Luke's dad. (I'm pretty sure he's a better cook than I am). He does everything in the Green Egg and in Dutch Ovens and it is FABULOUS.

                                                                      The Boys...

                                             .....and the Girls. (we are definitely outnumbered!)
Once we had finished stuffing ourselves, we headed to the annual fireworks show at the Natural's Stadium. I was looking forward to the first year where I didn't have to cover the eyes and ears of a terrified toddler or hide in a bathroom or closet.

At nearly a hundred degrees at 8:30 at night, we sat sweltering in the stands chowing down on snow cones and waiting for it to get dark enough for the fireworks to start.

At just after 9:30pm with kids beginning to get antsy and sweat trickling down out backs, the show began. The Arkansas Naturals put on a great 4th of July fireworks display and Nater Mater alternated between "ahhhhh!!! Look!!!" and hiding his face in my shirt with his hands clamped over his ears. But, he made it through the entire show with no tears this year!

                                                       Happy 4th of July everyone!!