Bill and Annie: Candy

You'd think that a post about the Fourth of July should be called, "Independence Day," or, "Freedom Isn't Free," or something patriotic like that. But, you would be wrong. In my kids' world, one word sums up this holiday: candy. Well, maybe "parade" would work too. But for a couple of days leading up to the 4th, the four older kids were holding strategy sessions for getting the most candy possible this year. Last year, they were a bit timid and surrounded by much more aggressive children and it meant not very much candy, relatively speaking. So, this year, I overheard things like, "Okay. Grier and Bristol can be down on the ground while we catch the candy," and, "Try to grab at least ten pieces at a time." By 10am on the 4th, they were primed and ready. Nothing was going to stand in their way. But just in case, they practiced these "no candy" faces for the camera:

Well, Bristol didn't care about candy, as long as she had her paci. And sadly, as a side note, I searched high and low for the dress both the other girls wore for their first 4th of July and I thought I still had around. The longer I searched, though, the clearer the memory became of a conversation I had with my mother at a garage sale I held the summer that Grier was a baby, "This dress is meant to be worn. It doesn't do anybody any good if it's sitting in a box in my house!" Oh well. Apparently it doesn't matter what she wears. She's always adorable!

Turns out, there was no need for their "no candy" faces. There was no candy shortage this year. There was one particularly sweet moment when Fletcher and another little kid approached the same piece of candy. Fletcher got it first, but held it out for the other little boy to have instead.