Melting on the 4th!

This year, the 4th of July was so incredibly hot, we spent way more time inside than out. The morning started with a visit from Jacque and Kaylee to borrow our grill. We have a giant picnic at Oma Kathe's, and Jacque was making some delicious grilled jalapeno and mushroom poppers!

We headed over to Oma's around 12:30, and the feast began! There was not enough room for all the food that people brought, so Oma had to switch out when a dish went empty. She decided that next year she's assigning 1 dish per person! We all sat outside under the nice canopy tents with sweat literally dripping off of us. It was so uncomfortable. The Smidt girl cousins walked down to Arts in the Park after we were done eating. They didn't have face painting this year, so we settled for some sweet patriotic tattoos. Jacque chose George Washington for her neck...

Laura, Michelle and I went back to my house for a while to cool off. Since there were so many people at Oma's and Grandpa's, the air conditioners weren't producing enough cool air. We laid around for a while, gathered up my friendship bracelet materials and headed back to Grandpa's. We spent the next hour or so grazing on snack food and making bracelets. I made one for Megan and told her she had to be my very best friend now. She agreed!

Then it was time for the parade. Stewartville has a very long parade. It lasts for about an hour and a half. We used to sit at Great Grandma and Grandpa Smidt's house, but since they've passed away we take over King's yard. They're very accepting of the Smidt/Schroeder bunch! Tony made it in time for the parade too!

There were a few Smidt's present on the parade route. Connor as a boyscout. Boy did he throw us a pile of tootsie rolls!

Matt on the tractor like every year. He had a bag full of candy that he only threw to us! It was great :)

And Tyler with his baseball team sponsor. He threw some candy our way as well. 

We had all the girl Smidt cousins there except for Autumn. What a fun day!

Rob and Amy brought a lot of fireworks and sparklers to Grandpas. So we were occupied before the real fireworks started.

I made a heart. 

and Jacque was a bit inappropriate.. :)

Tony spent the entire fireworks show taking pictures. He captured some really neat ones!