Happy Birthday America!

Wowy! We had planned for a great outside July 4th BBQ. We had everything ready

The flowers where blooming and flags where everywhere.

Along with tables and chairs!

Even for the kiddos!

This sand pit is leftover from what used to be a sandbox.

My kids where happy to get the party started.

The cousins started to arrive first (they where the lucky ones!)
These two where not about to stop and pose for me.
Then we saw this!

It has not rained here in a month! And it NEVER rains in Oklahoma in July! But boy did it decided to rain on the 4th! We started grilling at 6pm and by 6:38 not only did it start raining but lighting too. So we had to move everyone inside. Not what we had planned. Hoping for it to let up but it never did. So we let-it-go and went on with the night. I somehow got sidetracked during all this and never took any pictures during the BBQ. I think I was to busy trying to create a plan B that we had not planned for. I was able to get a few before shots.
Remember the full bolt of red burlap I got a few weeks ago for $2.00? Well I put it to use for the Fourth. And by my guess we will have it for a few more Fourth of July's! Keep your eye out for all the red burlap. My husband started to call me Bree` that turkey!

These towels where all ready for wet kiddos from swimming. Instead they came in handy for our rain soaked guests!
I think this was a bit much for some...everyone kept asking me where the silverware was? I won't even tell you about where I kept the ice!

In the South we drink tea and pop (not soda)! Hannah's old wagon got some new use.

I had girlie things like Fizzy Strawberry Lemonade and fresh flowers.



Ahh......

And Gooey Butter Bars!


Party favors for the babies...

And the big kids too...

Mom's homemade vanilla ice cream,YUM! We did have a lot of really great food but I was to busy eatin' it all to take any pictures!

And this is the aftermath.... before

and after...much better!

I hope that rain or shine you enjoyed your Fourth. Where else but America can we express our shelves with the freedom that has been given to us all.

Gettin' ready for the 4th!

We attended a fabulous outdoor wedding this past weekend. And when you have an outdoor wedding in Oklahoma, in June, it means one thing! Heat, and the heat index!

As we were seated an attendant handed us a bottle of water and cute fans that had the evenings event printed on them. They were so stinkin cute I had an Aha...moment!

This fourth we are hosting a small little July 4th bash and yes it will be a hot one. So I decided to create our own fans to have.

I started with a couple of text boxes in word and created a menu for one side and copied the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner for the other.

I shrank it just a bit so that when I cut them out and posted them on red card stock the red would show as a trim. I then hot glued a craft stick to the back side and covered it with the Star Spangled Banner. Added a cute polka dotted ribbon and we have some cute custom menu/ fans for our bash! I made 30 fans for $4.73 and about an hour to assemble.

Can't wait to show you what else I am cookin up for the fourth. I let you in on it soon.

Oh...Pickles....

We are a family that loves to eat pickles. I would say Gabe likes them the most. He even ventured off and tried a pickle flavored sno cone one day. Let's just say it wasn't a repeat!

So this summer when I came across these family size jars at my local WalMart. I picked one up to share at home. Needless to say we go through a jar like this in about a week. Yes, I know our salt intake is through the roof.

We are a family trying to live up to the motto that is being taught now at school. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! GO GREEN! So I hated to throw away these nice big glass jars.

We are hosting a Fourth of July bash in a few weeks. And of coarse will be serving pickles. So I got my spray paint out and some patriotic ribbon and went to work. Here is what I ended up with.

I plan on slicing another family jar of pickles up and setting this out on the table.