The Northcutts: The Fourth!

I have been so lucky to have spent EVERY fourth of July weekend with my family. My Dad's birthday is the 3rd, so we've always made it a big, weekend long event! And for as long as I can remember we have always spent the 4th doing the same exact things! My parent's neighborhood really knows how to throw the best Fourth of July festivities and I'm so glad the girls are experiencing it now. From a golf cart parade first thing in the morning, a carnival with face painting, tons of food, and relay races. To pool games, lots of grilling out, live music, and a wonderful fire works show.

July 3rd

We started off at the beach, but the water was pretty rough so we stayed on the water's edge.

And we celebrated Papa's birthday!

July 4th

We started the day with the annual golf cart parade. When we were growing up, we knew our theme weeks in advance, had the decorations all ready, and got up really early to start decorating. The have judges and prizes every year and it became quite the competition among our neighbors.

Here's Grandma Betty and Grandpa Buzz ready for the parade to begin!

Since the girls are still so little and don't really care about decorating yet, we just enjoyed the parade from the road. And Kate and Caroline enjoyed all the candy, necklaces, and bracelets thrown out by the parade participants.

And then we headed to the neighborhood carnival where Caroline had her first snow cone and cotton candy. She LOVED them both!

And then it was off to the pool! Yes, Caroline swam with that bucket on her head almost the whole time. I don't know, but she thought it was funny.

Then we went back home for a BBQ with both sets of great grandparents, Uncle Daryl, Aunt Cinda, and cousin Shannon. It was so good to see all of them as always!

Aunt Cinda and Kate

GG Betty, Uncle Daryl, and GG Buzz

And finally it was time to go see the "tire works" as Caroline called them. Kate reacted toward the fire works like Caroline did last year - very interested and amazed.

However, Caroline thought they were way too loud and sat in Gaga's lap with hands over her ears, while peaking at the fire works out of the corner of her eye.