Happy birthday, America!

We had a fabulous 4th of July!  (What a difference a year makes!)  Just thought I'd share some of our highlights . . .

The main event of the day - a church picnic!  What could be better than great food

(including Noah's first taste of watermelon - he ate two slices) . . .

 . . . water balloon tosses . . .

 . . . even though some people got VERY wet!

 A moonbounce is always a hit with the kids!  Jaden and Lael both enjoyed this activity, although Jaden came home sporting a few bumps to the cheeks from colliding with someone's elbow mid-bounce.

 And did I mention yummy desserts???

And not just any dessert - these desserts were all part of a bake-off competition.  Lael and Jaden both decided that they wanted to enter a dessert.  Lael made Brownie Bites, a scrumptious confection that combines my from-scratch brownie recipe with Reece's Peanut Butter Cup candies in a mini-cupcake . . . I'd show you a picture, but they were gone before I could take one!

Jaden chose to make Banana Split Dessert - which he renamed 4th of July Cake in honor of the occasion.  He had Mom's help in a supervisory and advisory capacity (and to do things like run appliances), but this was very much HIS dessert.  It was chosen as one of five winners based on presentation by those attending the picnic!

 But that wasn't all . . . Jaden's dessert came in FIRST PLACE - out of all those who entered!  He was pretty shocked at first . . . then really excited!

His Sunday School teacher came in second with a magnificent pineapple upside-down cake!  Here they are with their prize baskets . . . although Jaden was told that he would receive a more kid-appropriate prize soon! ;) 

However, he really liked his first place ribbon!

Not to be outdone by her little brother, Lael won the drawing for a digital scrapbook kit!  I think she and Mommy will enjoy that prize! 

And then what picnic would be complete without a swing ride for Noah? 

We came home exhausted . . . but in such a good way!   

Happy birthday, America!