America's Birthday

July 4 is America's birthday. We went all out for the celebration this year. I had a celebratory t-shirt, mama and I made cupcakes, daddy smoked meat for 24 hours with our neighbor Mike, we filled up billions of water balloons and we had a party on the street next to us. Yamma and Baba and Amy and Oma and Opa were all here too.

We started things off right with some badminton. I used my own racquet, 'natch.




We ate dinner.

Then it was time for water balloon baseball. Neighbor Mike pitched water balloons and all of us kids got to try and hit them!


I stood in line with Mady. I love her. Have I mentioned that recently?



My shirt says "daddy's little firecracker".



We had two! pinatas. When they broke, all the kids ran in gluttonously to scoop up armfuls of candy. I don't understand why. Realistically they can only eat so much. I waited a moment and picked up a lollipop and said I was good.


Time to eat dessert. Our America's birthday cupcakes!


That doesn't look good, daddy.


Oma enjoyed her cupcake a great deal.


Fireworks time! I got to hold sparklers and I learned how to write my name in the air with them.


Went across the street for a better view.




I got to stay up late and watch all the fireworks in the street and also the fireworks that the next neighborhood over let off. That was something. I was sooo tired when we were done but I had lots of fun and I would do it over in a second.