Food, Family, Fun, and Fireworks

We had a very fun, busy 4th of July weekend.

The fun started out on Saturday morning at the Webster Groves 4th of July parade. We had a big group! We joined Mama, Great Grandma, Aunt Amy, Uncle Darnel, Taylor, Delaney, Trey, Uncle Steve, Uncle Kara, and Claire at our usual parade spot.

Mama brought Dunkin Donuts and Dane had a chocolate long john!

Uncle Darnel and Dane hung out before the parade.

Waiting for the parade to start

Our boys in their matching red, white, and blue shorts.

Keeping shaded by the umbrella

My sweet boy

Mama and Great Grandma

Daddy and Dane hanging out in the shade a bit

My two cute boys

The Clydesdales

We have heard that this was their last public appearance...well without paying big bucks!

Claire and Dane talking

Trey loves his baby Dane.

In the shade!

After the parade we went back to Mama and Papa's to pack up to go downtown. For Christmas we got my parents a room at the Millennium Hotel to celebrate the 4th and their 40th wedding anniversary. They invited us all down to spend the evening and watch fireworks from the room. We all brought snacks and enjoyed hanging out.

Some of us went to the Arch grounds for Fair St. Louis. Taylor made Dane a 4th of July hat at the Magic House booth.

Trey spent a lot of time on his hat.

Dane was checking out the hotel room.

Dane LOVES his Papa.

If Papa is holding him he will NEVER leave him

to come to me, daddy, or mama!

Daddy, Papa, and Dane watched the Cardinals game.

Mama and her little ones!

Delaney is so good with Dane.

Dane loved the view.

He would stand at the window and yell.

Playing "Where's Dane" with the curtains

Cousins!

Dane was a trooper Saturday night. He stayed up until we left the hotel at 10:00. We were amazed by how fast we got out of the hotel, to the parking garage, and on the highway. Took us less than 15 minutes!

Sunday we were in Lake Forest for the 4th of July. I was not very good about taking pictures of some parts of our day. Dane went up to the firehouse with Daddy in the morning while I got our brownies ready for the neighborhood BBQ. At noon we all headed up to the community center in Lake Forest for lunch. We hung out with our friends Chloe, who is 2 yrs old, Colton, who is 1 and a half, Tyler, who is 3, and Aiden, who is 1. We had a VERY active lunch table. It was fun!

After lunch we headed down to the pool for a swim with friends. Dane played ball with Aiden a bit and loves to watch the kids swim. From the pool we went over to Troy and Vicki's house to decorate our wagons for the 4th of July Kids Parade. The big firetruck led the parade.

Dane was so excited about being in his first parade!

About half way through he woke up!

He was excited to walk with Grace for a bit!

Dane was going to ride with Colton until he fell asleep.

Amanda and I decorated the wagon a bit, but Colton did not want any decorations so he tore them all off and just held his flags. You can see Amanda, in the green shirt, holding all of the crepe paper that Colton tore off!Chloe and Tyler were excited to ride in the parade.

They kept their wagon decorated, stayed awake, and waved their flags!

Aiden riding on Troy's shoulders...he did not want to hold the flag!

After the kids parade we hung out and let the kids play, then headed over to some friend's house across the lake for a BBQ before fireworks.

We took the boat out on the lake for fireworks.

Waiting for fireworks

Tasha and Chloe joined us on our boat

Dane was so happy I thought he would make it for the entire firework display.

The Deters pulled up next to us.

The firework display was great!

I was wrong though, Dane didn't make it til the end.

Friday Night at the Zoo

On Friday nights during the summer the St. Louis Zoo is open until 7:00 and on many Friday nights there is a band playing in the main courtyard until 8:00. We decided to check it out this past Friday.

Mama went with Dave, Dane, and I to the zoo. We ate dinner when we first got there. Dane had a hard time eating because there was so much going on for him to watch. He LOVES to watch people, especially kids.

I loved watching Dane look at the animals. He looks so serious as he checks them out. He will strain his neck trying to see something.

Checking out the bears with Daddy!

Dane really watched as this bear moved around his home.
Watching yet another animal.

Daddy and Dane took a ride on the carousel.

Watching the sea lions being fed

After we checked out a portion of the zoo we head to the main courtyard to look for snacks and listen to the music. The band was really good!

Mama was kissing all over Dane.

He looks a bit stressed in this picture!

Then he started to smile and laugh as usual.

Mama and Mommy shared a funnel cake and

Daddy got a big waffle cone that he shared with Dane.

The night was perfect. It wasn't real hot, we saw lots of animals,

heard great music, and had a lot of fun.

A Full Day!

Monday morning Dane and I headed up to St. Louis to meet Mama, Great Grandma, Aunt Kara, and Claire at Suson Park. It wasn't as hot as it has been, which was nice!

The group hanging out by the lake and watching the ducks.

Dane hanging out with his grandmas.

Dane loves to look at animals so Suson Park was perfect for him. It was his first time being up close to such big cows and horses. He would just stare at them.

Claire and Dane checking out the goats.
Claire loves animals that are smaller than her so she loved the chickens.

Checking out the mural

They stop looking for a minute to give each other a hug.

Looking through at Great Grandma and Mommy

Taking a break and getting ready for lunch

Aunt Kara and Claire

Monday night we met up with Aunt Amy, Uncle Darnel, Delaney, and Trey and went to the Magic House. It was a FREE NIGHT, which made it even better!

When we walked in we saw our friends Karen and Judy who own the Kirkwood Cold Stone. Dane and I shared a piece of Cold Stone Cake. He loved it....as you can see a little chocolate on his face.

I really didn't know how much there would be for Dane to do at the Magic House. I knew he would love watching the kids play though, so we went anyway. Well it was a good thing I was with Aunt Amy because she took us right to an area for babies up to 24 months! Dane had a blast in this area!

Going down the slide!

Delaney was in the Childrens' Hospital Play Unit

and was dressed up as a Dr. She was checking Dane's heart.

(This wasn't in the baby area...my pictures are out of order!)

Dane made some music!

You can see Laney working underneath the car

while Dane checks out the tires.

Driving Delaney and Trey around!

Back in the baby area Dane drove a boat.

He climbed through some tunnels.

Played in a tiny ball pit with Trey and Delaney

Did some fishing with Mommy

Before we left we listened to the band that was playing a bit

and then headed out to the garden.

Playing in the boat.

The boys!

It was a Monday full of fun! Dane was worn out.....

in fact so worn out that he slept until 8:00 Tuesday morning!