This 4th of July I went with my family to small town America where Lil' Man lives...We got up early to stake out our spots for the town parade..

As did others...

Here are Lil' Miss & Lil' Man...


No small town parade is complete without some sort of vehicle with long horns attached to the front:
Lil' Man learned real quickly that if you wave...

candy is thrown at you...

I looked all over town for a sequined visor like this one...but no luck...I bet she made it herself...

just relaxin...
What parade doesn't have a Sonic hot dog??? I just wish he was throwing lime Cokes instead of kids meal toys...



But I settled for a lemonade...


I also saw a ton of 5 year olds driving large vehicles...


Look at how the horses are being festive with their hooves...

We were tired real quick...even though the parade was only an hour...


Family...fun...patriotism...such a great day!

Lil' Miss, my 4 month old niece, has just started trying different baby foods...Here, she is trying applesauce. I think...I love her expressions!










She just better not make this face whenever (if ever) I cook a meal for her...

for Lil' Man...see, on Wednesday night his little finger was caught in a door and cut the tip of it off...he had to go to the ER and they actually had to do surgery to reshape the bone...I took these pics with my phone, so please ignore the poor quality....



Then, on Friday he had tubes in his ears...and tomorrow he is getting a heart scan to check on a murmur...He has been such a trooper...today we played and played...the humongo wrap, even though it goes to his elbow, didn't slow him down much...

Here's Lil' Miss, as most of you know she was in the hospital for about a week and a half just a few weeks ago...she is doing so much better! See how cool she is??? Well, with the coolness, she takes after her Aunt K....

So, my niece arrived yesterday!!! She was 6 lbs 12 oz & was 18.5 inches long...

Lil Man is her older brother so I guess her blog name can be Lil Miss...

If you're like me you want to see baby pics right away...so no more waiting:

Here she is with her favorite Aunt...Aunt K
I cannot stand anything to do with inside the body...organs...blood...watching surgeries or anything like that...so now you know that I did not want to be in the delivery room at all...let me see my niece all clean and bundled as God intended :)...honestly, when I have my own children, I may not be able to be in the delivery room then either...maybe they can just blind fold me...


Just minutes into the world:


He's such a good big brother!

Lil Man definitely turns into an older brother in this video...watch how he starts out being so loving but doesn't quite end up that way: (be sure to pause my player at the bottom of the page so you can hear him)




First feeding...

I also took video of her being fed...You can hear Sara and I start to sing to her...yes, we are dorks...tired dorks...



OK...so now I'll let you in on what happened while Lil Miss's crazy family waited for her...

I see this in the room...just sittin' out...I think an artist could so use this as a painting tray...I was educated on dilatation thanks to this...and no, I will never plan to use what I learned...

Here is the grandpa anxiously waiting...

more of us waiting...

The tv was on the wall and no remote (except for me)...I did what I could to make sure the "waiters" were watching something they wanted...and they could hear it...

Lil Man performed puppet shows for us...


Here is Lil Man to sum up the day for you:




Kids...gotta love 'em...and their normal faces...now I have one more to love and spoil...
I am also so glad that his momma "got her baby out"...

I am so excited that I am traveling to meet you today! You have been created in the heart of God. When you arrive this afternoon I want you to know that you have a family of wonderful, loving individuals who will always care for you. Life can be tough little one, but remember that love never fails.

I cannot wait to hold you and to see your beautiful face. As you grow up and I grow older, it will be great to witness all God has in store for you and your life. You will be a blessing to so many...So, welcome to the world, Little Ms. Difference Maker!

Love,

Aunt K