Howard Family, Party of 5

My contributions to this year's 4th of July bbq were minimal.

:(

I felt a little bad.

I did throw some fabric together and make this banner:

And I threw together some super simple ingredients to make cherry cobbler, which Arissa had the genius idea to add blueberries to so that when served with ice cream, it's red white and blue.

Just like the centerpiece flowers:

Here's a super awesome thing that comes from procrastinating....

ALL the 4th of July stuff I bought was 1/2 off, because I waited till the 3rd of July to buy it!

3 pretty, tulle skirts like this one:

And this dress, from Macy's:

Jesse and I didn't buy new clothes, but we ended up being all red/white&blue ourselves:

We bbq'd, spent time with family, tried to stay in the shade.

Mariah tried to squish my Nana.

stars and stripes:

I now know why my Grandma cringes now whenever I corner her and try and get a picture. Being on the other side of the lens is not that fun.

Mallory was a real paparazzi with her cousin's camera so I had to try and suck in my stomach and angle my head correctly whenever she snuck up on me:

Mariah wins the award for 'Most Pit-Stops at the Buffet While Riding Your Bike in Circles', I'd say.

The girls and half of their Kamenski cousins whom they adore:

Any of the 4 cousins come around, and my girls are all over them, wanting to play, wanting to talk, wanting to ask more questions than anyone should ever have to endure. They look forward to any get together where they will be there!

We played cards.