24 Years Awesome

July 4th is the best day of the year. Seriously, with the fireworks and the barbeques and the parties, it is awesome! It's doubly awesome because it's my birthday!

And this year was no exception in the awesomeness department. I was spoiled rotten.

First, my husband let me scamper off and abandon him with the kids while I was able to run the Freedom 5k Run with my brother and his fiance. My brothers also paid for the race as my birthday present. Nice!

Before we began the race.

Although I had to wake up at 5:30am to be able to make in time for the 7:00am start, and I didn't get the time that I wanted, I loved it.

After the race I had some shopping successes (doesn't that always just make a day better?) and then came home to get these two munchkins ready for the evening's festivities.

She's my real-life sparkler. 

We arrived at my cousin's clubhouse in Saratoga Springs and did some delicious grilling, hearty eating, and then, despite the dreary weather, we splashed around in the pool.

Which allowed me to finally show off Lydia in her adorable new swim suit. 

After participating in the homemade ice-cream contest, my brother called. He was supposed to be working until late, but, luckily, he got off early and so we headed over to join him.

How I loved sitting with my siblings on my aunt's front porch watching fireworks, talking, and singing songs with Lydia.

Also, one of the best surprises of the night was when Brigham gave me my birthday present. He really wasn't supposed to get me anything because I already got a new purse for my birthday, and we didn't have the budget for anything else.

Well, Brigham craftily called on a friend for some money he owed from a previously sold textbook, and used it buy me this:

Squeal!! My new favorite movie :)

I knew he was trying to get it for me, but I had no idea how he was going to do it without the money. How spoiled was I to have him watch the kids half the day so I could have some fun, and then surprise me with this? He's awesome.

So to wrap it up, my mom spoiled me with gifts, my husband spoiled me with gifts, my brothers remembered my birthday AND bought me a gift, and I had lots of friends/family send birthday wishes my way. 

Yeah it was a birthday loaded with awesomeness.

So thanks everyone for the awesomeness and I hope everyone had a great Independence Day!