The 4th

It's been such a quick summer.

I mean, really, it just started and yet here I am working on gathering the unbelievable amount of things it requires for a child to go back to school.

I am already donning the shroud of mourning, and there are still three weeks (a mere three weeks?!) to drink in these full (sometimes extremely long) days with my three eldest children.  I am trying to shrug off these depressing, Eyore-ish thoughts... trying, trying, trying. 

*Shaking my head*

Anywho, let's get on with Independence day, shall we?  Really, I have exhausted my little reservoir of writing that occasionally fills up, so I'll just share some pretty pictures.

Finally, my navy blue chevron wall is useful!

 

Seriously, these kiddos of mine are such posers.

We did some hair chalking, using our sidewalk chalk this year, and applied some temporary tattoos.

Then off to super-preggers Whitney's house to help her get patriotic. 

Look at the belly on her!  

Yes, we gussied up our toes to match our red and blue hair.

Then over to Nana and Papa's for dinner and a show.

Ha ha ha!  I cannot get over this belly!

Pop-Its! So much fun to throw!

And even more fun to throw at each other...

 

Topher was in charge of the pyrotechnics.  

The fireworks scared poor little Wyatt.  He kept covering his ears and saying, "Wee Oo, Wee Oo, Wee Oo"- which is Wy-Fi for firetruck.

He felt pretty safe when Daddy held him, however.

 Oh, how I love sparklers.

The fun ended early since the fourth was on a Thursday and a few peeps had work the next day (boo!).

God bless America!

Dancing the Night Away

 This time of year is quite hectic for everyone, and we are absolutely no exception.

But amid the book reports, field trips, and testing, there is one shining event that I love:

Dance Recitals.

It's just so gratifying to see the culmination of those hours upon hours of shuffling girlies back and forth from dance (not to mention the dollar dollar bills that have been applied toward it).

But... because my cheapness is near debilitating, I decided to forgo paying for the professional photos that were taken that day.  Instead, I hung up a black curtain in my loft and took my own.  Like I said: uber cheapness.

Do you like the fold lines in the "backdrop"?

Adi's class dance was to "Tell Me Something I Don't Know".  And she hated the costumes.  She said that she looked like a space alien.

Personally, I thought they were adorable.

Pip's dance was to "Let's Hear it For The Boy".  Thus the country-style.

My goofy girls.

Of course, Porter Pot wouldn't be left out.

Did I mention that I convinced a couple of friends to go on the cheap side with me?

There was no photography or recording allowed during the performance, but I did smuggle my camera backstage and snapped a few pics.

It really is awesome having you best friend forever in your dance class with you.

After the completely awesome performance, we snapped a few pics outside.
 

Nana and Papa brought the girlies some beautiful flowers.

We were a little terrified of bringing Wy-Fi to the performance, but he actually loved it.  Adi and Pipes were in the very first number, and since I got there an hour and a half early to save seats (oh yeah, I am that dedicated) we had rocking seats.  Wyatt could clearly see his sisters shaking their groove thangs.  After that, he kept shushing everyone around him, saying, "Shhh!  Piper dance!"

As you know, Wyatt calls both of his sisters "Piper".