Our Little Firecracker

Our little patriot may not understand the importance of the celebration of our nation's independence, but she does understand that America's birthday is LOUD! We spent the 4th (and 3rd, 5th, and 6th) celebrating with cookouts, fireworks shows, and a parade...Caroline was momentarily adopted by the Reams family as we waited for the fireworks to begin at the July 3rd celebration in historic Norcross near our house.

Our neighbor's little boy, Collier, provides more pre-show entertainment.

The display was pretty stunning...

or, in Caroline's opinion, startling!

She decided this is the kind of thing you watch from the safety of your daddy's arms.

Or better yet, in only your underwear sucking your fingers.

By the end, she didn't think fireworks were anything to get worked up about...in fact, they are pretty boring.

We spent the next morning at the annual Dunwoody Parade with our Sunday school class.

This was our best attempt at rounding up all the kids for a picture. Note the displeasure on Bennett's face for having been chosen as the propping support for Caroline.

Watching the parade pass by, which, Caroline noticed, was also very loud.

Again, Dad's arms are the best place to be.

And, again, this stuff is only entertaining for so long.

Caroline slept through most of the cookout and fireworks show at my Aunt Sandy's house that night, but her Cousin Ellie didn't. While she rotated from lap to lap during the show, her fingers never left her ears.

Happy Birthday, America!