Independence Day and beyond

I have to wonder... If I had given Riley this (pictured) before I left home yesterday afternoon, would he have done that (second picture)...  I left the house at about 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon to pick up Kyra from her dad and then drive to Lake Lanier. {If you'd like to read about my morning trials and tribulations, click here.} We were invited to the 2nd annual 4th of July party at our friends lake house and were really looking forward to it. I fed the dogs before leaving home and felt confident they would be fine until we returned home at around 11 p.m. But... our plans changed... 

We had an amazing time catching up with friends we haven't seen in a few weeks. Great food, great fun, great friendships! Last year, the fireworks were shot from the lake bank, and people watched from the top of the deck. But this year the water level in the lake was much higher. So this years plan was to shoot the fireworks from the top of the deck, which meant people had to either sit on the edge of the lake, on the neighbor's dock, or float in the water. All of the kids, most of the men, and Lisa and I, opted to float in the lake in life vests (all the other women, and a few men, watched from outside the lake). The water was warm and it was incredibly relaxing to watch the fireworks while in the lake. LIFE IS GOOD!  Gary and John are pyromaniacs and produced an amazing show!  Kyra floated over and asked if we could spend the night there. I told her we hadn't been invited and she said that Sophia had invited us. It's been a whole month since they've seen each other!!!  Shortly afterwards, Sophia and Kyra floated back over and said that Sophia's dad said we were welcome to stay. At first I said no... we need to get back home to let the dogs out... But the lake was so refreshing... after the fireworks were over, Gary joined us in the lake. By the time we made it back up to the house it was 11 p.m. Kyra begged again. I always have a fear of driving at night on the 4th of July because of the high probability of drunk drivers. So I gave in and agreed to stay. After helping clean up a little, I settled in on the couch watching a Star Wars movie. I was drifting off to sleep when Lisa woke me saying that she and Gary were going to go home and that I could sleep in Sophia's room instead of on the couch. I was sad they were leaving, but grateful for a bed. Tonya loaned me pajama pants and said she had set up a space on air mattresses for the six girls, downstairs. I drifted off to sleep at 1 a.m., grateful for such amazing friends!

I woke this morning at around 9 a.m. when I heard the television and smelled coffee. I helped with cleanup until the girls woke. Tonya said they planned to hang out there until mid-afternoon and said we were welcome to stay. I said I needed to go home and take care of the dogs, but left Kyra there and said I would return. I came home to find this... but thankfully, no pee or poo. YAY! I was a little mad, but only a little because this is a seat cushion that Riley has worked on a few times. He's now destroyed it beyond re-use, but I was thrilled that the dogs hadn't pee'd or pooped in the house! I let them out, fed them, let them out as long as they wanted. When they came back inside, I returned to the lake.

With much fewer people there today, it was more relaxed. Will took us out on the boat and we took turns "tubing".  Bryn, Natalie and Sophia went first. Then Bryn and Kyra. Then Brendan. Then Tonya and me. Then Tonya, Natalie and me. And lastly... Bryn, Kyra and Sophia. Lots of fun!  After tubing, Tonya took the girls out on the jetski and then we spent some time back at the pool before heading back home. What a great day! My original plans for today were to mow the grass, but that can wait for another day... Amazing times like this don't happen everyday, so might as well live life to the fullest when we have such grand opportunities! LIFE IS GOOD!!!