Dance like no one is watching

Fourth of July Festivities

Our kids look forward to the Fourth of July for so many reasons... Mainly because we get together with family and have a blast! Every year we take a family picture, then head over to the Hadlock grandparents for Food, Games, Fun, Fireworks, and a Talent Show starring all the cousins. The kids do a good job at preparing their acts and showing their talents. This year, the kids were so excited because all the cousins were there.

I was thinking, my kids are kind of like fireworks. Nate (7) is like a jumping jack-full of energy and bounces all over the place. Jessica (9) is a like a flower - sparkly and colorful. Nicole 11 is like a sparkler - steady, bright, full of light and energy, until she fizzles at the end of the day. Drew is like a bottle rocket, light him on fire and he blasts off (lol) and Natalie is like a fountain...words flow out of her all day long...it seems like she'll never stop.
Me and Dave - 15 1/2 years of fireworks...I don't know which firework describes us best...I guess in marriage you get them all eventually!

Tyler is a fun and spontaneous emcee.

The three youngest girl cousins : Alayna Hadlock, Natalie and Christina Stahmann. Nicole made their cute festive tutus.

Breakdancing B-Boys.... Nathan Daniel Michael Ethan and Tyler!

Everybody MACARENA!

Its fun to stay at the YMCA!

Bunny Hop !

Breakaway- Jessica, Kaie and Nicole sounded so good singing this together. They each have pretty voices and its fun to see them get more confident as they get older.

Drew is officially a teenager at 13 and feels a little old for the talent show, but he did the Jerk for us and accompanied the kids on his guitar for "Proud to be an American".

Dave -- showing his limbo skills. He is is know for his lack of flexibility, but he can limbo.
Grandma and Grandpa Hadlock cutting a rug. Dave's mom loves to dance...I don't know about his dad, but I love that he dances with her because she loves it! Our kids get dancing genes from both sides...I am glad they like it too. I have had the opportunity to teach all of them- I hope they will have good memories about it. I'll write this off as another wonderful Fourth of July.. I am so happy to be free to enjoy my family!