Independence Day Recap…

Banner with a banner.  A legit Bannerman, if you will.
(almost)

I have always loved the Fourth of July.  The red, white and blue, the parades, the food, the poolside fun with family, the fireworks, the history of land, sacrifice and country - I just can't get enough.  It is one of my favorite holidays of the year.  And it is somehow made all the sweeter by doing the same things I used to do as a child with Banner.

Because I am nothing but a sucker for history and tradition. 

If you don't believe me, see LAST YEAR'S POST.  Because our holiday itinerary was essentially identical to last July's.  And while you are at it, can you believe the difference between 6 months and 18 months?  Lordy.  They really do grow up so fast.

We started the day at the annual Park Cities parade.  My dad still lives in the house I grew up in, which is half a block from the parade route.  It warms my heart that 30 some odd years ago, I was Banner's size and watching the same parade in almost the exact shady spot off of Preston Road.

Although, I don't think I had a fabulous pint-size folding lawn chair when I was his age.  Trevor picked this one up back in April for under $10 at the Christmas Tree Shop out near the Galleria.  I had completely forgotten about it, but talk about perfect!  Well done, Trev.  Well done.

And the baseball cap?  Compliments of Uncle William.

Just like last year, Adam brought breakfast tacos, and we all sat around watching the smallest member of the family drink in all the Independence Day festivities around him.  Which he absolutely LOVED.  It was cuteness overload (at least for THIS mama) to watch him wave his little flags and dance to the marching bands and various songs being blasted broadcast from the passing parade floats.  He may have been a little overwhelmed at first, but by the end he totally owned it.

He even got special attention from the HP cheerleaders.
Trev was jealous and immediately started regaling his
son about "daddy's high school football glory days".
Poor baby.

If only Auntie Ah-meh had been there to see it!

(She decided to sleep in after telling everyone else to be sure and arrive extra early the night before!)

Parade expert.

He was sad when it was over and kept
looking down the street for more floats.
#brokemyheart

After the parade was over, we walked back to Grandpa Buddy's to regroup and cool off before heading out for a late morning Starbucks pick-me-up in the Village with William, Claire, Adam, dad and Joie.  We had brought Banner's dragon wagon, and he entertained us all for nearly an hour climbing in and out of it (and on/over everyone else) before making it VERY clear that "someone" was in dire need of a nap.

And nap he did.  For OVER three hours.  Obviously, we need to go to more parades. ;P

Dancing man in the DCC's Founder's Room...

The nap was an awesome thing, and totally gave the little guy the extra energy to stay up WAY past his bedtime, dance for hours and thoroughly enjoy the fireworks.  Which was awesome because the show at the DCC was absolutely spectacular this year.

Love.

After last July, we avoided the DCC valet like the plague in favor of the good ole self park options in the underground lot.  Good thing, too, because the line for the valet post fireworks was a hot mess just like last year.  Instead of waiting for an hour for our car like Grandpa Buddy, though, we simply walked the "extra distance" (ha!), climbed in the hybrid and drove away.  Banner was asleep before we left the parking space, and slept until nearly 10 AM the next morning.

It was a good day.