My favorite holiday!

To illustrate why we call our blog "Crazy 8" here we are -- all 8 of us in the minivan! Despite what should be an 3.5 hr ride taking more like 5 hours, our car DVD player being out of service (a big thanks to Papa for fixing it over the weekend!), and it being Mackey and Keady's first ride together, everyone was in remarkably good spirits!

Unsurpisingly, the fireworks were a hit with the kids. Zeke was so funny! His running commentary during the display went something like this:

OOOOOOOOOOOH! BIG! BIG! REALLY BIG! BIGGIE! BIGGIE BALL! repeated in a continuous loop.

Praise God for giving us a nation where we can celebrate freely and with such an abundance, and even more importantly have corporate, public worship and fellowship that his Name may be praised and glorified loudly and publicly. Sunday morning we were priveleged enough to spend worshipping our Abba Father in Centennial Park with all of our Munster/Hammond family. The Calaways et al pulled off an amazing tribute to God and our country.

I'm convinced that it's required for it to either be raining or have a heat index of at least 100 on the 4th of July in Munster, IN. At least, I can't remember a year that was anything different. As you can see below, this was a hot one. We tried everything we could to keep cool at the parade including seeking shade, an umbrella and Nate's broken umbrella chair thingy, a baby sun tent, stripping, purchasing things at Dairy Queen mostly to take advantage of their AC, at least a dozen slushies and frozen lemonades, and lots of water.

Finally, the parade is coming! The kids were so hot that by about 1/2 way through they weren't even picking up the candy thrown directly at their feet.

Notice the popcicle in 1 hand and lollipop in the other. Can you say sugar coma?

Later at Nonni and Poppi's house -- Lovin our Haley May!

It was a fantastic weekend celebrating my favorite holiday with our families, especially my sister who is my July 4 buddy. My mom managed to instill in both of us that 4th of July is unquestionably the best holiday by doing everything from hand sewing 4th of July print outfits, to letting us light fireworks in the driveway from a very young age (a tradition we continued with Grace and Greta this year -- only we did it in the backyard. It was fun, but the trees complicated things a bit!), and co-organizing a neighborhood bike parade complete with police escort. Thanks mom! Somehow my brother has decided he prefers Thanksgiving, but we're pretty sure that's just because he likes to eat!