Answer Me This -- Independence Day

Kendra, over at Catholic All Year, brought back her Answer Me This series (which I will be back sharing). So today, I bring you our 4th of July celebrations and 5 other random questions. 

1. How did you celebrate the 4th of July?
We went to a beach BBQ party with our Church friends. We actually took a boat over to a nearby city -- from one lake to another (love the Midwest). Reid screamed his head off once we got up to speed. Coraline hated her life jacket. But it was totally worth it, I loved the ride. 

The BBQ was pretty fun too. Ben was Dad in charge. 

Nell was the happiest fish in the water. 

 And Reid was muddying it up with his best little buddy. 

Totally these boys element.

 Dad in charg did this while I was at the beach with the big kids ... and then he let me go tubing (with the seven-year-olds I teach each Sunday) while he watched all three kiddos. 

We put the kids to bed early, promising them we'd wake them up for fireworks. Reid was the only one we could rouse (and that took a lot of work). So he and I went to the fireworks show together. Instead of our city fireworks, we drove 6 miles West to attend a small town display. He's been wanting a date night (he actually got to pick which parent took him), so it was a special couple of hours for us. We went to the gas station for a free soda, and I packed some fruity popcorn for the show. 

He was so excited for the fireworks, and claims they were his favorite part of the day, but he did sit in my lap and request primary (Church) songs the whole time. 

Ben tells me we could have just stayed home. Even though we've lived in this house for three years, I never think to just watch our neighbors' firework show. It's crazy. There are no regulations in this little town. And the state has no regulations on the sale of fireworks. So yeah, people on both sides of our street let off legit up in the air, big boom fireworks. I'm going to have to remember that for next year. 

2. Do you sunburn easily?
Depends on how you define easily. Every year I get one sunburn, it's usually pretty ugly, but then I'm in the clear. I loathe, loathe! sunscreen; it is an act of true love when I lather it on my children. 

3. Hot dogs. Yay or nay?
Yay! Yay! The first meal I ever made Ben? Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs. Yup, he married me anyway. 

4. Have you ever personally set off fireworks?
Little ones, sure. Pop-its are my favorite though. At 32, I still think those are fun. 

5. Have you ever jumped off the high dive?
Yes. Loved to do that as a kid, it gave me a little rush every time. I love that moment you're fully emerged in water and you aren't exactly sure how long it will take you to come up. Cliff jumping though -- that really isn't my thing (another dating story goes here). I need a pool, clear water with a marked depth ... then I'm all over jumping off high platforms.

6. Do you do anything weird in your sleep?
I talk in my sleep from time to time. Nell has inherited this trait.