Happy Independence Day!!

We celebrated Independence Day at the lake and spent most of the weekend fishing, canoeing, riding the pontoon boat and playing in the sand.

We decorated the pontoon boat for the annual July 4th boat parade. We made a USA sign and Ethan wrote all of our names on the sign.



Since we were in the parade, we didn't get any pictures of what our boat looked from shore in the parade. During the parade, the kids got to sit out on the front of the boat with their second cousins. After a great BBQ we lit some sparklers (hands protected by giant oven mits) and watched fireworks over the lake. Mary Kate fell asleep well before the fireworks began, but Ethan held out for about half the show before conking out.



MK was a little hesitant about the sparkler at first, but quickly found her groove and impressed everyone with her double-sparkler dance moves.



Ethan stuck to a single sparkler routine.

Here's the best picture Dad snapped of Mom with the kids on the boat. Although you can't tell from this picture, the kids love the boat. They didn't want to be bothered with posing for a picture.

Ethan enjoying the boat cruise...