Happy 232nd Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July!! I've always enjoyed celebrating our nation's birthday along with a few of my favorite things - family, food and fireworks! I know growing up I always loved it - mostly for the fireworks and knowing that my birthday was only a few short days away. I'm also partial to July 4th because that's the day I met Jason 13 years ago! I met him at the base park celebration in Turkey (the summer before our senior year in high school) when we were both about to turn 17! I was surprised to find out that our birthdays were only 2 days apart - mine on the 8th and his on the 10th! That's right folks...you did the math correctly - Jason and I will be turning 30 in just a few days! Eek! Unfortunately I'm the older woman, so I'll be turning 30 first! Dang blast it! ;)

So anyways - Jason's sweet brother Michael decided to fly Beth out to Dallas (his little woman who lives out in Virginia near the Capras), pick her up from the airport and drive down to San Antonio to celebrate the 4th with us! I was so glad to hear they were coming! I have been really bummed lately thinking about how Tony had already bought 1st class tickets back in February for him and Angie to fly out and spend 2 weeks with us over the 4th of July holiday. It's really sad to think that they could be here right now...if only... :(

So Mike and Beth arrived really late Thursday night and we stayed up until 2am visiting with them (until they couldn't hold their eyes open anymore - then we let them go to bed).

The next morning we attempted to go to Sea World since they were having a big 4th celebration and fireworks display, but it was insanely crowded, so we turned our cars around and hightailed it out of there! Jason and Michael decided that the next best thing to Sea World...was Bass Pro Shop. ;) We spent a good hour or so there looking and playing around. I guess it was a good thing we didn't cram ourselves into Sea World because it started pouring down rain a few minutes after we drove away! We always seem to have crappy weather here for the 4th of July. You wouldn't think so - with Texas' extreme heat and dryness! Of all days! It makes me so mad! Oh well - at least it always clears up enough by nightfall for the fireworks!!

Katie and her Uncle Mikey


Mike, Katie and Beth


At Bass Pro Shop watching a little boy rock climb


Me and my cute little monster!


Jason caught something!!


Mike and Beth at the shooting range


I think he won...


Mike caught a healthy 22 lb Katie!!


Kristin doing her semi-annual pose with her fish friend


Jason and I decided to head home, so I could get started on the food for our BBQ while Mike and Beth went out for a movie. It was a good thing they decided to go out because I spent FOREVER in the kitchen!! Hours upon hours and I'm not even sure why!!! Nothing I made was too difficult or confusing to prepare - it was just stuff I don't usually make and I wanted to make sure everything turned out okay, so it took me forever. It's ridiculous if you ask me! It's as though I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner or something! It doesn't get any more pathetic than that folks! ;)

I still had more to do by the time Mike and Beth got back, so I had Jason throw all of the meat on the grill while I finished up. Michael graciously accepted Kristin's plea to help her assemble the new trampoline we just bought a few days ago, so he was busy putting that together. The food was finally ready, but before we were allowed to eat Jason and Michael HAD to finish putting the springs on the trampoline and test it out before we could come in.

This is it? This is what took me hours to prepare? What the frig?!


Rrrr... The strawberries are starting to leak all over my flag cake!


Mike and Beth setting up the trampoline


Jason and Mike testing out the trampoline


Rainbow


Clouds and sun rays


We finally ate...too much I might add (ugh). Then we herded ourselves into the living room to watch Rambo 4 (that Jason had rented on his Xbox). It was pretty good...a little violent and gory, but still good. We stopped halfway through for an intermission, so we could run outside and watch the fireworks from our front yard!! The fireworks were being set off from the other side of base, so we didn't get to hear the big kabooms as loudly as I'd like, but it was still nice to be able to see the fireworks without getting trapped in the horrendous traffic!! I love living on our hill!!! :)

Ready to eat!


Katie, Beth and Mike waiting for the fireworks


Kristin took this picture of me and Jason...not too bad! :)


Jason and Mike engaged in a friendly boxing match while we wait for fireworks


Watching fireworks from the back of Mike's truck


Me and Katie-poo watching fireworks


Watching fireworks


She loves it!!


When the fireworks display was all over, we went back inside to finish the movie. Jason had to go to bed before it ended because he has to wake up early for work tomorrow and I'm about to fall asleep myself, so goodnight!!! Hope you all had a great 4th of July!!!