4th of July Picnic ~ Part 1

Friday, we had our church's annual 4th of July picnic at our home. It is always a lot of fun plus an opportunity to invite other friends and families over. The sun was out and no rain at all this year. The high that day was 98 degrees which meant that the heat index was much higher. We have been having unusual high temps and very little rain. This means we were hot, dry, and humid!!!!

The picnic started at 10 am and we had people til after 5 pm that day. There were 60 something people at our house with 40 something of those being children! Here are some pictures from that day.

We always enjoy decorating the tables and area for the picnic. This is our 3rd or 4th year to host this event at our home. It was much different this time since we moved from our much smaller house to this house. The yard worked out great for everyone to roam.

These first few pictures were a little blurry because my lens fogged up as soon as I walked outside to take pictures.

Here are a few shots of some of the cars parked all around our yard.

We left the desserts inside along the island due to the heat outside.

Nicole, one of our teenagers at church, made Tate a birthday cake for me since the picnic fell on his birthday. Thank you Nicole! You did a great job.

Everyone lined up to go down the food tables.

The church provided the meat (chicken legs, sausage, pork loin chops, and hot dogs) along with the drinks, plates, cups, utensils, and napkins. Everyone else brought the sides and desserts.

The badminton area...we have an annual badminton tournament tradition. Those pictures will be part 2 of the picnic.

Pastor Dale and Rob chatting while others are in line for food.

One of the boys tables

Another boys table

Lighting the candles for Tate

Singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candles...Nicole put trick candles on the cake so Tate couldn't figure out why they kept relighting!

As you can see, people spent time in and out during the day.

Mrs. Pat and Ella

Mrs. Martin and Owen

Mrs. Martin is our oldest member at our church. She is in her upper 80s and she gets around like you wouldn't believe. She still tends to her huge garden and mows her yard.

Nicole and Zechariah

Looking out towards the woods.

Daddy and baby resting inside from the heat.

Scott and Emma

Baby Zechariah sleeping on one of our bookshelves!

I would have liked to have gotten some better pictures however it is hard to be the photographer and hostess at the same time. Not to mention there was a badminton tournament going on that afternoon. Rob and I were a team and wanted to win. A lot of people wouldn't play due to the heat but I told them that they didn't have an excuse with a pregnant woman 11 1/2 weeks away from giving birth was out there winning!!!