4th of July and Dr. Appts

We had a wonderful 4th of July with small town parades and Apple pie and a little bit of reading (okay, more than a little bit). We decided to try a parade in a smaller town about 15 minutes from us. Elizabeth had made pom-poms, an American flag, and two blow horns (all out of construction paper and tape) for us to use. Jonathan was afraid of the loud horns from the fire engines and ambulances. Elizabeth was at first disappointed that the parade did not meet her expectations ("This isn't as fun as I thought it would be."). But then they started throwing candy and there were some queens ("Mom, I think that's the queen of the world!" she was the queen of Mi

ddleburg High School.). It was a good thing two kids couldn't bring home candy because our kids just couldn't seem to get to the candy before it was snatched up; but the two kids would bring us all the candy they caught, so we have plenty. Yeegghhh. Phoebe wanted to be held by Dad the whole time. She didn't even want me to hold her; but I was okay with that. She would have enjoyed being on the ground also, but then she would have crawled/walked into the street. She is not afraid. Elizabeth's favorite thing about the parade is when a 'princess' (a Sonic girl in a long skirt and on roller skates) gave her a glow in the dark stick. And Jonathan's was getting candy. I remember parades being a lot more exciting when I was kid though. We always had marching bands and baton girls doing twirls and things. Lots more music and excitement. But maybe that was because we were in Louisiana and they know how to party down there! We made an apple pie for our after lunch snack. I read a book to Elizabeth a few years ago called Apple Pie Fourth of July and it just seems like we should have apple pie for the 4th since then. Phillip read some of our country's founding documents: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It's good to read over those every once in a while. And we also finished our Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls. I thoroughly enjoyed that book again! Today we went to the doctor for appointments for the kids. This was Phoebe's very first doctor visit ever! She had her regular shots and check-up. Shots are never fun, but she seemed fine with everything else. Elizabeth had her ears checked out; she gets pretty bad wax build-up and they tried to get it out with a water tube/squirt bottle contraption. They got some, but she went ballistic eventually and wouldn't let them finish. Jonathan just had his skin checked out (he has eczema), and we got a perscription to help clear that up. So it was a long wait, and we had tears from all sides to dry up, but I'm glad to be done with that. The doctor gave the kids each a brand new book which was a special treat. I don't know if they do that for everyone or if it was because they all cried so much! The pictures above are of Phoebe not wanting to walk when we tried to get her to and the other two having a picnic on a really hot day (hence the umbrella to keep out the sun).