Fireworks

 We always celebrate two kinds of fireworks on the 4th of July...the exploding kind and Katelin! She has always loved sharing her birthday with America.

All the kids wore matching shirts this year, except for one who didn't like the design. Sounds like something a teenager might do. 

 

 Theres the teenager now, in the back. Still part of the family after all.

These kids cant resist being silly! Again, the teenager is throwing things off...wheres her tongue? Pshhh... 

We'll keep her anyway.  Good thing shes cute!

 

 The hair for this year.

 

And the first event of the day is always the parade. If it weren't for the candy, it might not be worth the heat!

 

 

 

Madi helped Brylee collect some sweets. Its tough pickins with all those kids!

 

Then we came home to open some birthday presents. This one was something Katelin has been begging for for a while. Since she will be in Middle School this year, we figured it was maybe time.  We set the phone with a birthday ringtone, then hid the present upstairs. I kept calling it to make it go off until she finally heard it and we went to investigate where that noise was coming from. She thought it was Grandma T. calling to sing her traditional birthday song. A little video of the unveiling for you viewing pleasure.

 

Then we finished opening the rest of the presents.

1D earbuds from Zack

 Earrings from Alissa

 1D bobblehead Louie and bracelets from Madi

 A soccer ball

 A special edition 1D magazine (can you tell who her favorite band is?) :)

 and of course the phone 

Zack trying to give her one more surprise...him!

 

Then it was time for her birthday "cake". She decided on two giant chocolate chip cookies smashed together with cookie dough frosting and served with cookie dough ice cream. It was delicious, but very rich! 

Its always fun to use sparkler candles on her birthday. 

We ate one half of the cake, and Jovi managed to eat the other half when we weren't looking. Needless to say she was up all night long puking and sick. Shes lucky to be alive...in more ways than one! 

Then we spent the rest of the evening at a party with friends. The kids swam, did sparkers and watched fireworks. It was all good until Brylee got some glow stick liquid in her eyes. Then it was time to head home.

The next night we finished off some leftover sparklers we had. Cant believe we will have two middle school kids this year, and on the next birthday we will have 2 in young womens! Crazy stuff!

Speaking of crazy...

 

Happy Birthday little firework!