The Third of July?!?

We got a head start on the celebrating. After accomplishing a HUGE project Saturday (will post pictures very soon!) we decided Sunday was a fun day! It all started at church where Bayside hosted an All American day, complete with on the grounds BBQ, apple pie bake off and pinewood derby races. Tristan decided to make a car this year and in an effort to not be outdone Tori decided to bake a pie.

Tori's pie did not win since consistency was one of the judging factors and quite frankly the inside was apple crisp and therefore a little soupy. BUT it was the cutest!

Tristan's car was funny. First they went to Grandpa Doug's house who said he had a saw...and he did. A hand saw. So the sporty figure he had imagined turned door stop. But he was still confident. After adding tires and some fishing weights and a few weigh ins the car was ready to roll but needed some panache. So Tristan decided flames were in order. Considering his artistic abilities and the small canvas he was working with we convinced him a racing stripe and number might be better...I sometimes forget that with 8 year old boys you need to be specific. Hence Tristan's version of a racing stripe - patriotic tiger stripes. But he did take 2nd place out of 30 racers in grades 1-3 so I guess he knew what he was doing after all!

Then it was off to Brighthouse Field for a Threshers Game. Nothing says Independence Day weekend like a good old ball game!

And then the storms started moving in. And we were really there for the fireworks in hopes of missing the actual 4th's crowded marina display we usually go to. The calm before the storm was gorgeous but the storm itself was ominous in the distance! Thankfully the stadium officials felt the same and start their show early. It wasn't quite dark yet but the black clouds gave a decent background and the show was amazing.