Happy 4th of July!!

I think the REAL reason Mom wanted to come down and visit for the 4th of July this year was because of the Peach Festival!  :)  We went last year and had SUCH a great time at this small town parade and ate the MOST delicious peaches that we KNEW we had to go back!!

Because of the extreme heat this week and my very pregnant state, we did things a little smarter this year.  Last year we arrived as the parade was getting underway and then walked through the festival a bit to buy our peaches and check things out.  This year, we got there about an hour early, found our parade watching spot quickly, and went to buy our peaches FIRST!  It was plenty hot at 9 am and we knew we weren't going to be able to stay past the end of the parade.  My kids wanted to see the parade and I wanted my bushel of fresh peaches!  So this way we accomplished both!  We got back to our seats with about 10 minutes to spare before the parade was underway - it was perfect!!

 We didn't waste ANY time digging in to those incredible peaches!!!

 This was Callie's 2nd peach - she ate two of them right there - and ate them right down to the seed!!  Her granddaddy would be proud!

 This camel always marches in the parade - he's part of the Christmas pageant from another area church and is quite famous around here :)

 Lots of army tanks and jeeps - loved this helicopter!

 The boys filled up their balloons from a local candidate to try and make water balloons...

 We had borrowed this wagon from a neighbor from the morning so decrease the amount of chairs we had to lug and to help navigate the younger two through the crowds.  Next year we'll be back to a stroller again! Sigh!

 It was SO fun - just perfect! The parade was done at 10:30 and we headed back to our car and headed home.  Perfect plan for us this year!

 We enjoyed an All-American cookout for lunch - hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni & cheese, ranch potato salad, corn on the cob - delish!!

 After rest time, Mom and Caleb worked on peeling peaches for dessert later on...

 The big boys relaxed a bit on the couch...

 And we enjoyed some incredible homemade vanilla ice cream (one of my favorite wedding presents ever - that ice cream maker!!!) and some homemade peace cobbler!  Out of this world!!!  We headed to the pool to cool off and refresh a bit before heading down the street to watch fireworks.

There is a church down the street (literally) from us that does this incredible fireworks display ever year.  Starting at 7 pm, they have a HUGE slip and slide for the kids, do a cookout dinner for everyone, and then the fireworks show starts at 9 pm.  It's perfect - so close, convenient, and AWESOME fireworks!!

 Jacob and his friend Owen.

Owen was in his class at school this year, and his dad is the youth pastor at the church that puts this on.  

 It's flag shirt time!!  A fun tradition that my family has!  Mom gets us all the flag shirts from Old Navy every year - LOVE it!  :)

 Tutu and the grandkids

 LOVED having Tutu here again for the 4th of July - I don't think we could celebrate quite the same without her!!!  It's becoming a tradition!

 My boys

 The Schrodt family - 2012!

We have so much to be thankful for this year, and at the top of my list is the way God continues to protect our family and our country.  Coming from a military family, I have always been aware of and grateful for the tremendous sacrifice that our military and their families make.  After losing several friends of ours from our church in VA Beach recently in the war, I am reminded of the steep price for freedom and for what a tremendous sacrifice it is for many.  May God continue to bless America and may American bless God!