"Just Own the Night, Like the 4th of July..."

Happy Wednesday, framily!  I'm super tired at work this morning, but yesterday was really fun and good for the soul, and I got a new screensaver photo out of it, so I'm glad I decided to make the Tulsa trip!! =)

And here we have what my hair and makeup could have looked like in every photo last night... had I been like every other adult woman I know and kept my shoulders-up out of the water, but instead, I jumped in with the five-year-old and ruined my mascara and had to ponytail the hair. lolol  #worthit  I do wish we'd taken the above photo before that, but that's okay.

A short and fun, patriotic slideshow! lol

Sparkler pics are always so cheerful...

And yet, I'm terrified of fire, so mine is more comical than cute. lol

I told Parker that I wore this necklace just for her, and I wasn't kidding.  She asked me to hold her several times just so she could play with it. =)

Jeffrey Edward and I were in matchy colors, so I had to document that!

Jessica, Sophia, and Evan

Our family lunch at Red Robin earlier that day... I hadn't seen the Myricks and Peavlers in a while, so this was fun!  And I learned that Triston's plans with his friends got cancelled, so I invited him to join me in Tulsa... he had fun, and I was entertained by Jeff's commentary and questions! =)  "Ohmygosh, T-man, I can't believe you're here in the flesh - I've been reading about you for years!" lolol

My favorite guy friends from 2010 to today! ❤

Kelly made this lovely and delicious flag-cake, Karli made Chet's famous cookies, and Mom sent brickle bars with me - all of the above were a hit!
JEM: "Kelly made the cake, and it's really good - the icing is made with, like, a vanilla yogurt.."
Kelly: "It's cream cheese icing - it's not yogurt." lolol

My gosh, I cannot even with how much Parker Elizabeth was reminding me of Kyndal Faith covering her ears with her sweet little hands... cuteness! ❤

2015 Kyndal as Jace and Josh did some kid-friendly firecrackers:
"Loud!!  Xare me." lol

Anyway, I'm happy T-man joined me and drove us home, and I'm happy I have freaking excellent friends, and I'm happy to live in America, and I'm happy the giant "USA" letters and my insistence on a group photo was a success, and I'm happy God orchestrated it for Steve (Chet's professional photographer next-door neighbor) to be outside right as we were trying to decide who could take the photo, and I'm happy about this lovely post by Chet Lee! =)

❤ ❤ ❤