What a wonderful day we had.  Between swimming, and fireworks, fun times with friends, and yummy food, it was perfect.  Some of the highlights were:

SWIMMING: 

Before we went swimming today, we went and got Derek a life jacket, since he was too big for his floaty.  Lily decided that she had to have one too, and we relented, since she actually practices her swimming when she is in a life jacket. 

I'm so glad we got them, because Derek was in heaven – he just wanted to float on his back the whole time. And Lily, she was awesome!  She swam on her back really well, and on her front with her face in the water so well.  The only bad thing was that I was FREEZING, and so we had to cut the swimming short.  (Just so you know, it was only like 85 degrees – pretty pitiful that I was cold.)

BBQ:

After swimming, we all came back and had a nice nap so we would have energy for the night's activities.  Then Kevin grilled some steaks while I made homemade french fries and corn on the cob.  It was so yummy, and definitely made it feel like the fourth.  Then the kids watched "The Muppet Movie" while we waited to leave for the . . .

FIREWORKS:

  Savannah puts on a great fireworks show right over the Savannah River. Most people go to River Street to watch it (which is fine if you want to be around thousands of very drunk people).  We had heard to go across the bridge to watch them instead, and were so happy we did.  Looking around at the thousands of other people on our side of the river, I decided that must be where all the families go to watch. 

(Here's a picture of the sun reflecting off the dome of the court house – We had such a great view of the city across the river.) 

We met our friends Dawn and Robert, and so Lily got to play with her friends Jordan and Cameron.  They were very cute, and it was especially funny when both of their little girls wanted to take a turn holding on to Derek's harness – just like they had a puppy.

When the fireworks started, we had an amazing view!  The girls, and even Derek, were totally engrossed.  In fact, it was such a great show, even us adults were inspired and impressed.  When it was over, there was a mad dash for the cars and trying to get out.  Luckily, we happened to find a short cut, and amazingly enough, we were out of the traffic in ten minutes.  What a blessing!!

(Here's a picture of the bridge we drove over to get across the river – so cool!!)

MORE FIREWORKS:

Our friends invited us to come over and light off fireworks after the big show was over, and so that is where we went.  It was pretty late, but that didn't stop the kids from having fun with sparklers and watching the other fireworks :).

It was after 11:30pm by the time we got home, but it was such a great Independence Day.  I am so grateful to live in this amazing country.  I have traveled, and I have not only seen, but I have experienced other countries and cultures, and I cannot begin to express to you how incredibly blessed we are to live in this great nation.  We have more freedoms than some people could begin to hope for, and I pray that each of us live up to the great responsibility that this lays on our shoulders. 

Happy 4th of July to all of you!!