One Step Ahead of the Chaos

Yesterday was a very eventful first Fourth of July for Caroline. She got to start out with going to one of the community centers in our neighborhood where a lot of the neighbors had gathered. There had been a little parade with the kids (and their decorated bikes, trikes and other modes of little people transport). We missed the 10 minute parade (it isn't too long for the sake of the little riders). But, we did get to see the fife and drum players

Caroline was decked out in her red, white and blue dress in honor of the fourth. She wasn't too sure about the drums (Jack brought her over to the other side of the parking lot to hang out where it was a little quieter).

We were able to see a number of our friends and neighbors, including our goddaughter Isabelle!

As you can see, Isabelle got her tricycle all decked out for the 4th and rode in the parade.

There was free ice cream and hot dogs (as you can see from Isabelle's cone). We all hung out and then went to Andrea and Dominique's house (Isabelle's parents) to enjoy the outdoors in their backyard.

Later on in the evening our friends Alex, Chris and their son Leon came over for burgers in our backyard.

Then Caroline got to enjoy her very first metro ride to get to our favorite firework watching spot.

It was well past her bedtime (we actually woke her up).

She seemed pretty unconcerned by the crowds and the noise in the metro station.

We had a great spot to watch the fireworks over the Memorial Bridge here in D.C.
I really thought that Caroline would cry (both because of the noise and it being nearly 2 1/2 hours past her bed time.) But she was intrigued. She sat like this the entire time and watched all of the pretty colors. She actually seemed to think the booms of the fireworks were interesting or funny (she kept "talking" whenever it got loud).