Weekend-ing - 4th of July Edition

Oh hey guys. I'm a little embarrassed that I haven't blogged anything since Nate's birthday post, buuuut it is what it is I guess. Some fun things happened in between then and now that hopefully will make in onto the blog this week, but until then I'm just gonna give you a weekend recap of my 4th of July weekend. Cause it was fun...nothing extravagant and vacation-worthy, but still - fun. Fun enough to break out my freedom banner I made two years ago, cause it's too big to hang in the house year round, so I can kind of only use it for 4th of July's.

Per the usual, we ended up at my parents house to take full advantage of the pool. Cause really, what's the 4th of July without swimming and pool time? Except the day started out cloudy and overcast and out of all the freakin' days of the year, 4th of July is required to be sunny. Hellooooooo mother nature, get your shiz together. Fortunately, she took note and got her act together for the afternoon. 

The obligatory 4th of July family photo:

You guys, the dogs. Seriously, I know I'm biased but so cute right??

Maycee's like, less pictures, more throwing of the ball puh-leeeaaase.

Besides swimming and pool time, the 4th of July just isn't complete without my dear friend Tyah either. We've been spending 4th of July's together since 2005, with the exception of last year when she and her husband moved to South Carolina. But lucky me, since her husband is deployed and she's living back in AZ for grad school we were reunited for yet another 4th.

 Reunited and it felt so good. Maybe too good? Cause this is me snuggling a tequila bottle:

Oops

Good thing we had all this food to consume

Nate tried to pull the "you have to wait 30 minutes before swimming" card with me but I wasn't havin' it. Back to the pool we went.

He eventually joined us...

And Gunther, per the usual, gets a panic attack anytime someone goes under water.

It's funny and annoying all at the same time.

For the rest of the afternoon, Tyah and I dissolved into a puddle of margaritas and that's really all I can say about that. Exhibit A:

It took us a good while to compose ourselves before we could head over to Tyah's parent's to watch fireworks, but we eventually made it. And to that I say, better late then never cause we still caught the fireworks show.

And what's the 4th of July without blurry sparkler pics??

When Nate was deployed in Iraq I hung out with Tyah and her husband, who I've known and loved since the 7th grade, all the time. I loved being their third wheel because I never felt like a third wheel and it always made me think of Nate - which made me happy. I'm glad we could do the same for Tyah on this 4th of July when her husband is overseas. Cause the four of us, we always 4th of July together...even when someone is overseas fighting the good fight. The fight that we celebrate this very day, Independence Day.

It was a good 4th of July, as they all are. Cause we're a free people. A free people of the most amazing nation there ever was. There's a lot wrong with our republic...but there's a lot right. A lot more right, than wrong in fact. And I love to celebrate that. To celebrate how much is right and perfect and unique about our nation. And to celebrate the people that are brave enough to take a bullet for this nation. I think we should celebrate that on more than just the 4th of July.

So I hope you celebrated; in the best possible way I hope you celebrated and I hope you had a fantastic 4th of July!