Our 4th of July (Very Late, I Know!)

We celebrated the 4th of July by having a couple of friends over-- Nick's cousin Scott (whom Shiloh calls "Uncle Scott") and also his college roommate Michael. We grilled burgers and corn and enjoyed them with plenty of watermelon (how American can you get?!?) and then went to play a little miniature golf. Shiloh has grown to LOVE putt-putt over the last month or so. Here's a video of her "golfing" from earlier this summer:

Nick and the guys decided to check out the firework stand in front of the mini golf place afterward, and ended up with quite a few fireworks to show for it. So we went back to the house and set them off once it got dark.

Here's Shiloh ready for the show.

See her excited face?

Shiloh and Michael

Shiloh and "Uncle Scott" (notice Nick's creative photography here)

She loved the snap-n-pops (or whatever they're called)... only she couldn't usually throw them hard enough to get them to pop on contact, so she had to stomp on them afterward.

She thought the sparklers were pretty neat...

... until the smoke descended.

I REALLY wish this photo had turned out! This was her shocked reaction when we set off the first "loud" firework. (I was playing with the night-time setting on my camera, which apparently I don't know how to use.)

Good thing Daddy was there to keep her safe.

She would still cover her eyes for the loud, popping fireworks. (None of us had the heart to tell her this wouldn't do anything to muffle the sound!)

And what better way to finish out the 4th of July than with some homemade ice cream?

YUM!