Happy 4th of July!

Kelli began our wave of departures on Saturday afternoon. After spending the morning at the pool and then coming home to delicious lunch and a relaxing afternoon, it was time to take her and Joseph back to the airport. Then the rest of us headed out to Lake Murray to watch the fireworks. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. We got there around 6:30 pm, and had an hour or so that the kids could play in the lake for a bit. Then we ate our fried chicken and biscuits that we brought, and settled in to watch the fireworks. It was such a relaxing evening - there's something about being at the water! It also helped me to feel like I was at home, since we've spent the last 7 or 8 July 4ths watching fireworks from the oceanfront.

Whose stunning silhouette is that in the water? Why, it's the 9 month pregnant woman!! :) How I ended being the only grown-up in the water with the kids is beyond me!

John, Jacob, Josiah, and Luke

See - there's Callie in Tutu's lap again! :)

David and Kim with Matthew (who was quite a trooper since it was already WAY past his bedtime of 6:30 pm!)

Silly Jacob

Everyone knows you have to bring a deck of cards to the beach!

Crazy Josiah

Aunt Kim brought tootsie pops for everyone while we watching and waiting for the fireworks to begin!

Are they holding hands???? I didn't notice that before!

Mary and Matthew

Here's our whole gang - we took up quite a spot at the beach!

Callie enjoyed climbing all over Matthew's stroller...

Jacob wore David's visor for a bit - he is SUCH a mini-me of his daddy!

Callie and Matthew decided to play in the sand for a bit....the last 10 minutes before the fireworks start are ALWAYS the longest!

David and Josiah

Jacob and Luke working on a road in the sand