Redneck Games and Cuddle Time

We continued our Fourth of July festivities over the past weekend, and I had to share some pictures with you. Every year my aunt (mom's sister) throws a big July 4th bash. All of her family comes (our side), and her husband's side comes too. Her husband is from a family of boys, and when they get together, there are always lots of pranks and stunts involved. This year, they decided we should have go-cart races. There was a qualifying round, and then an order was given to the races. They roped off a course-- a dangerous one, I might add. We all moved our lawnchairs out to the beginning of the course to watch. Before the big race began.... are you ready for this?.... we had to sing the National Anthem while the flag was waved!! Does that officially qualify us as REDNECK?!?! It was hysterical watching the show! They were so serious about it. I got a few pictures from the kids' races, but the adult races were so intense that I forgot to capture anything on film. I guess you'll have to use your imagination!

Uncle Terry was very serious about keeping accurate times!
Mara made sure everything was recorded correctly.

Betsy won first place in the kids' races.

The audience gathered for the big race. Take notice
of the truck in the background. This was the mid-point of the race,
and the kids put lawnchairs in the bed of the truck so they could
get a good view of the track. That is officially REDNECK!

Jamey (my cousin) crosses the line.

Now on to a sweeter note. My sister, Amie, and her family (the ones in Nashville) came down for the big party, and we had a good time hanging out together. It was the first time they'd seen our house or our ultrasound pictures of the baby. Her youngest son, Nathan, loved Belle and Beau, and he followed them around the house the entire time they were here. He became really upset yesterday when Belle didn't want to be held, so we arranged them in my lap where both Nathan and Belle were content. Nathan was THRILLED to be holding her. He would love on her and bury his face in her fur-- so cute!!! Look at how sweet and excited he looks holding her in the pictures below.