The Hawks Family Circus: 4th of July

We had a very nice 4th of July weekend. This is one holiday that I was really looking forward to spending with the kids. I think the reason is because I always loved the 4th of July as a kid and into adulthood is has been a highlight of each summer. It's been a tradition of my family for years to go to the parade in Apple Valley. We are very into it. Yes, we are one of those families that goes the day before and claims our spot. For the past several years I have stopped by to put out our blankets around Noon the day before the 4th. Last year the city of Apple Valley started to enforce the rule that you can't put out your blankets until 24 hours before the parade starts, which would be 1:00. But, if you waited until 1:00 there wouldn't be any good shady spots left. So we come around 11 and sit around for 2 hours guarding our blankets so that the city workers won't take them. This year we did shifts of sitting at the blankets. By the time we got there at 11 all the shady spots were taken! So - next year - we are getting there at 10:30 am!

Anyway, Sunday morning we got up and went to church as usual. We tried to have a casual morning knowing that the kids' schedule was going to be totally off. At 12:30 we headed out to the parade. Luckily for most of the 2 hour parade it was cloudy. But it was still hot. The kids were sweating bullets within minutes of getting there. They both seemed to enjoy the parade. Michael, of course, really got into it and after a few encouraging pushes started running to get the candy when they threw it our way. We came home with more candy this year than I've ever seen in years past. Liliana did great. She sat in her little lawn chair, but would get down and crawl in my lap if she was scared. She did get a little cranky towards the end of the parade ... I am sure we was hot, hungry, and tired. We got home a little bit past 3 and the kids took a short nap before we headed out again.

Me encouraging Michael to get some candy.

Standing and clapping for the US flag.

Liliana at the parade - hot and sweaty.

Mommy and Michael

Michael and his sucker.

Michael's loot from the parade.

Our next 4th of July adventure was a picnic at my sister's house. The kids always have fun playing with their cousins. After dinner we went for a walk around the neighborhood and then had ice cream to cool off. Then out came the fireworks. The kids both threw whipper-snappers, Michael danced around with some sparklers and Uncle Trevor lite off a variety of fireworks in their alley. Michael LOVED watching the fireworks. Around 9 I decided, since Liliana was getting crabby, that I would give her a bottle and try to rock her to sleep. No luck. She drank the bottle, but had no interest in sleeping. At that point we decided we might as well let the kids stay up until 10 and watch the fireworks. We had a pretty good view of both the Apple Valley and Eagan fireworks from my sister's front yard. Not to mention all the home fireworks that people we setting off a few blocks away. Liliana wasn't really interested in watching the fireworks, probably because they were so far away. Michael sat nicely with Grandma and watched them for the majority of the half hour show.

Eating ice cream to cool off.

The kids watching Uncle Trevor lite off fireworks.

Michael and his sparkler.

Liliana throwing the whipper-snapper.

One of the cutest moments of the day, although it had nothing to do with the 4th, was Liliana asking to go potty. I had just taken Michael to the bathroom. When we came out Liliana was standing outside the door. I walked past her, not really sure what she was doing. Matt came over to me a few minutes later and told me to come look at Liliana. She was standing in the doorway of the bathroom all by herself saying "please" over and over in sign language. I asked her if she had to go potty and she did her sign for potty. I put her on the toilet and she actually went. That was the beginning of her asking to go potty. The next day she asked to go again and then on Tuesday she asked to go potty 5 times and went each time. Now she's started to use it as a delay tactic. Conveniently she has to go potty during meal time and at bed time. :)

We headed back home just before the grand finale of the fireworks show. Since the kids weren't THAT into it and I was getting eaten alive I decided we should go home. Plus it was nearly 10:30 - 3-1/2 hours past the kids usual bed time! The kids pretty much fell right to sleep when we got home and slept until around 8:30 the next morning, which was nice for Mom and Dad. :)

Overall we had a great 4th of July. And it was so nice to have Monday to relax and get back on a normal schedule before Matt had to go back to work on Tuesday. The rest of the week was mostly a normal week; playing with the neighbors, running errands, etc. Michael had an appointment at the U on Friday for a research project he is enrolled in. He did great and had a blast playing with all their toys. Liliana stayed with my cousin, Allison, while we were at the doctor. She lives just a few blocks away from all our appointments at the U. Afterwards, we all went to Noodles for lunch. The kids ate a TON of noodles and then we headed home. That afternoon Liliana went poopy in the toilet for the first time. I was so excited I had to keep the poop in the training potty for Liliana to show Daddy when he got home. Luckily when she did it he was only 20 minutes away from home. I closed the bathroom door to keep Nickel out. When we walked in the bathroom to show Daddy after he got home he knew instantly what she had done. The bathroom stunk horribly. But it was worth Daddy getting to see Liliana's first poop in the big girl potty. Maybe not for him, but it was for me. :)