4th of July 5K and fireworks

We had a fun but low-key 4th of July this year.  We'd just returned from vacation two days before, so that was fitting.   We woke up bright and early so that Bryson and I could run the 5K with Molly and Randy and Jarom could cheer us on from the sidelines.  Bryson was a champ!  I'm so proud of him for completing his first 5K sans-stroller.  He finished with me in 44 minutes, 20 seconds, which is more than three minutes faster than when we did it with the stroller in September.

Bryson kept telling me "Come on, Mom.  Let's go!" and ran his little heart out, especially the first mile and the last ten feet to the finish line.  He told me when he was ready to slow down to a walk and asked me to hold his hand at times so that I could help him along.  He stepped out on his ankle, so I had to carry him for a few stretches (uphill each time), but he made it!  I'm very proud of him!

For the second year in a row, fireworks in most towns in Colorado were canceled because of wildfires.  So after the race and a look at the parade coming down the Parkway, we went home for a nap.  We had great barbecued ribs with Randy and then Bryson stomped on some Pop-Its and pulled some party poppers to make the night complete.  We love our country and the people who have continually fought to give us the freedoms we enjoy.   Happy belated Independence Day!