4th of July in Manzanita!

The Michael clan on the 4th of July

Clara and Mommy waiting for the parade to begin

Once it started Clara LOVED watching all the kids and floats. While she had been to the Winlock Egg Day parade a few weeks back with Grandma & Grandpa Stevens and caught on to the whole candy deal, she was a little slow to run to get any this time. It was all the better and we just encouraged her to run after a few lollipops (her favorite). I think she ended up with about 8 of them!

It had been since before we were married that we had spent the 4th of July in Manzanita and were astonished by how much bigger the festivities have become. Before, it was more of a kid & bicycle parade and now has grown into a 40 minute production with floats and horses! A delight for lil' Scout!

Out on the beach enjoying all of the fireworks. This year we didn't even do a sparkler and we were just as content watching everyone else light there's off. There is just something so terrifying about the kid/fire combination and as parents, the 4th of July festivities will take on some new worries that we have yet to have to experience.

Mommy and the rest of the kids we very happy with the S'mores - a first for Clara and to no surprise, they were a hit!