Cole has been looking forward to fireworks on the 4th of July since he saw them last year. There is a nursery right down the road from us that has a great show and we were counting down the days until we got to go. We went to a cookout with neighbors and friends for dinner, and then planned to all go over to Raleigh Green Nursery at dark. Unfortunately the rain clouds and gloomy forecast promised to try and ruin our plans, but that didn't stop us from enjoying some great food (including some home made ice cream and s'mores) and awesome company! It started to storm before dark, so we decided to all run over to the neighborhood club house to let the kids play and hopefully wait out the storm. I think we all knew the weather wasn't going to clear up but we wanted to show the kids we were giving it every possibly chance to do so. I had bought some glow stick necklaces and bracelets for the kids, so we got those out to make the most out of our night. At about 8pm I called over to the nursery to see if they had plans to reschedule the fireworks and surprisingly they told me they were still planning to do them that night since the thunder had stopped and it rain had slowed to a drizzle. We decided, if nothing else, maybe we could sit in the back of the Tahoe and watch the fireworks from the car if they were crazy enough to still set them off. Among those still hanging on to the hopes of seeing some late night fireworks were our good friends, Casey and Courtney and their two kids. Somehow (I'm still not sure how the men convinced us) we ended up ditching the idea of sitting in our cars and instead grabbing blankets and umbrellas and heading down to the field to get a better view. What a flop!! We sat out there, with a ton of other crazy people, in the rain, getting wet and therefore cold, waiting for the show. There were probably 10 times we threatened to leave, but something kept making us think they were getting ready to start. First it was the cannon that they fired across the lake every 5 minutes (startling the life out of us every time!) making us think they were leading up to the show, then all the headlights and trucks busy rustling around where they planned to set off the fireworks. Finally, at 10pm... tired, grumpy, wet, and cold... we gave up. The kids were beyond done with the day and ready to surrender to a July 4th without fireworks. After our trudge to the car carrying exhausted and disappointed children, they started setting off the fireworks. 10:15pm. Really?? At that point it was pretty much a waste because we were all too tired to even care. Oh well, what can you do?
I haven't been very good with taking pictures lately, but I grabbed a few family shots at the cookout.
Here we are... with the doom and gloom sky in the horizon!
The Busse Fam
On a much sunnier note, we have enjoyed spending lots of time at the pool this summer. Kellen is my little water bug (wonder where he gets that?) and has absolutely no fear in the water. He loves to dive off the side and swim underwater to get pool toys. Cole is much more reserved and hesitant about going under water, but shares his brothers love for the pool. Their floaties have been great this summer, because they can be independent in the water. Nina has made special trips to see us this summer to do some swimming lessons with the boys and a few other kids in the neighborhood. Of course, everyone loved her, and she did great with all the kids and their different comfort levels in the pool. One of our neighbor friends, Kaylah, celebrated her 3rd birthday with a pool party, which the boys loved! Anything that combines their friends, the pool, and cupcakes is a no brainer for an awesome time :)
I love watching my boys grow up around a pool because it was such a huge part of my childhood.
The birthday girl, Kaylah, and big sister Leah
Mmmmmmm :)
Tootie thought so too!
Some of our most favorite summer memories have been with this little girl, Haley Kay!! The boys adore her and they all play so well together.
Summertime always reminds me to slow down and savor the moments in between the chaos.
Probably not the first girl they will fight over! ;-)
Playing in the sprinkler
Cole preferred the paintbrush method...
She isn't even mine but I have to say this is my most favorite picture of the day!! She wasn't overly impressed with the 3D glasses... possibly because they were upside down and smudged with paint :)
I mean, seriously, could they be any darn cuter?!?
By the way, they all laughed hysterically when I sprayed them with the jet setting of the hose to get all the paint off. I'm pretty sure I got some satisfaction out of that too :)
She isn't even mine but I have to say this is my most favorite picture of the day!! She wasn't overly impressed with the 3D glasses... possibly because they were upside down and smudged with paint :)
I mean, seriously, could they be any darn cuter?!?
By the way, they all laughed hysterically when I sprayed them with the jet setting of the hose to get all the paint off. I'm pretty sure I got some satisfaction out of that too :)
