Freedom & Funnel Cake!!

This was prolly THE busiest 4th of July ever! But it was so great! I started my day WAY too early considering it was a day off from work. 5:30 in the AM to be precise. A few days before I decided to run the Firecracker 5K. Who knows why. Ok mostly it was to cancel out the guilt I knew I'd feel later when I consumed my funnel cake. The race started at 7:00 which really is too early but what can you do!? I talked Joelyn into running it with me, Bless her! and of course we had a little photo session with ourselves before we ran!



Here's me running to the finish line. I realize it looks like I'm not running very fast but trust me I was! I think my freakishly long legs make me look like I'm not going very fast. I'm willing to bet those 2 girls behind me took 2 or 3 steps to my 1!! But man I've got some great legs!!



I shaved almost 5 minutes off my time from my race last year! Go me!!

After I ran my fat face off I had grand plans of sitting around watching the parade. Then I got roped into walking with my Branch's float & passing out candy to the onlookers. Ok fine I'll do it. So after running the parade route I turned around & walked it while passing out candy. Good grief! It was really fun tho & it made for some GREAT people watching let me tell you! All the weirdies this city has to offer were out in full force & they wanted candy!

After that it was funnel cake time! Not since my Jenny left me have I been able to find someone who loves funnel cake as much as I do.....until Megan!! Bless her for coming into my life & loving funnel cake! Pretty much our whole day was centered around when we'd be getting our funnel cake. I can't celebrate my independence without funnel cake. It's unheard of.

Delicious!!!



Now that's the look of happiness!!



After that we had a little BBQ at Chris's house. Honestly I ate too much in such a short span of time but that's what a holiday is for right?! Originally I wasn't going to go to the river to see the fireworks but my friend Arie got a group together so I went & it was a great time!!



The 4th of July always makes me think of my beloved Grandparents & the carnival we would have in the backyard at Knollwind. And of course that parade she'd make us all march around in! We'd march around that yard till we dropped & she'd keep going with her drum major baton & all manner of patriotic music blaring in the background while Grandfather char broiled our burgers. Man I loved it & man do I miss them!