The 4th of July in Oak Cliff and this kid is amazing!

We joined in the neighborhood parade taking our wagon filled with juice pouches and freezer pops to sell to raise money for the orphanage things. Gillian doesn't mind explaining what we are doing and being the sales person. She is so much like her mother in these things.

They had the bounce house/water slide, which was a huge success. They ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while I wished I had packed something for myself. Dad came and picked us up! Yea Dad!

Woo! We were exhausted and hot from our LONG march down Windomere :)!

Darcey drinking up our profits!


Later we were treated to a patriotic performance! Gillian always plans the programs and then makes Grace and Darcey perform. This time though she provided "reflections" on what it means to be an American, the importance of the American flag, and the "blessings" of being American. Grace and Darcey performed, "It's a Grand Old Flag", "God Bless America", "America", and then the finale was "The Star Spangled Banner", a prayer by Gillian and we all said the Pledge of Allegiance. This kid is only 10! She is remarkable and has always done this.

After showers, we took off looking for fireworks and weren't disappointed. Marcie and Drew were on the Houston Street viaduct, so we kept driving till we found them. Then like everyone else, we just parked on the bridget, got out and saw fireworks from Garland, Mesquite, Irving, Arlington, Fair Park, somewhere in North Dallas, and then the ones we went to see in the West End. It was a perfect spot to be surrounded by such beautiful fireworks and beautiful family.