Thankful Thursday - Edition 27

Oh my goodness!  I haven't posted since last week's Thankful Thursday.  I haven't really been that busy.  Mostly just swim practice, errands, gym.  Just regular life.  Regardless, here's just a few of the things I'm thankful for this week.

1.  Family, friends,food, fireworks, and the Fourth of July.  We invited my family and Jennifer's family over to celebrate yesterday.  We had a simple menu of a few easy dips (guacamole, spinach and artichoke dip, and jalapeno popper dip)and hot dogs with all the toppings, baked beans, corn salad, watermelon salad, and hash brown casserole.  And then everyone brought a dessert. 

After dinner we set off a ton of fireworks!  They were really good too now that we know which ones to buy!

And isn't Dan adorable (disregard my crazy brother's photo bomb!) in the shirt the kids and I got him?  Wally For President!

2.  The newspaper - on time!  We have had issues with our newspaper delivery person for weeks now.  My husband (and according to the Facebook community page many others as well) have been emailing and calling to complain about the late or undelivered papers.  They appear to have finally gotten a new delivery person!  I was so excited the other morning that I snapped this picture:

Dan really enjoys reading the newspaper before he leaves for work so he is very thankful for this new person!

3. America!  I guess I'm still feeling all the 4th of July feels but I love my country and I am very thankful for it.  It's not perfect but I still think it's the best country in the world.

4. Simple arrangements.  Look at this cute flower arrangement.  I saw a similar one online and tried to replicate it.  It's not perfect but it's a cute way to do something alittle different with a grocery store bouquet. I am always thankful for fresh flowers and cute ways to arrange them.

5. Front porch time.  My parents have a great front porch - it's wide and long and there's a swing and lots of rockers and we spend a lot of time out there with them when it's not too hot.  Our porch is much smaller.  When we moved in we put two rocking chairs on it but later removed those and put in the swing.  It's not ideal but the other night all four of us hung out on the steps and swing from after a late dinner until bedtime.  The cats even came out there with us.  It was a perfect way to spend a lazy summer evening with the ones I love the most.

What are you all thankful for this week?