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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Holidays ·

July 4th Fun!


I think it’s safe to say that I should have some sort of professional position on the McKinney tourism board.  I LOVE MY TOWN!  I love it every darn day of the year…but especially on July 4th when we do Independence Day RIGHT!  From morning until night, we have a fun-filled red, white and blue kind of day…starting with…

…our July 4th parade!

Every July 4th morning, our historic downtown hosts the cutest parade!  Every year, all of our friends gather on the same corner to watch the fun.  This is one of the highlights of our summer!!

See?  All of my faves are there!  Narci was the first one I saw when I came up to our corner…

…her daughter Presley was super pumped we brought Frenchie!

Everyone takes their spots and settles in for the fun!

Some of my very favorite McKinney mamas!!! I love these ladies SO MUCH!!

Madeley was excited to be there!

It was her second July 4th to celebrate 🙂 .

Even more McKinney mamas!  Seriously, these girls make living in McKinney even more fun than it already is!

Brooke and I were twinning 🙂 .

And then…the fun began!  Here comes the parade!

 

 

I love doing life with Erika!!

 

 

 

 

 

Ashby loves her some Griffin!

These three friends melt my heart.  We love Britt and Willow so much!

After the parade, the Shull six had lunch and reminisced about how 16 years ago that day, we met 😉 .  I am just so thankful that my brother brought home Andrew Shull for July 4th one year 🙂 .

 

Later that afternoon, the Slaughter six came over for our annual swim party and cookout!

…we partied all day long and then ended the night with fireworks and fast food burgers…because, yeah!

Oh McKinney…I love you 🙂 .

To see my whole post all about McKinney, click HERE.  I’m so happy I call this place home!

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Comments

  1. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    What a great day out for the whole family! I love that you’re all dressed up to celebrate! 🙂
    –
    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

  2. Nicole says

    I have a couple random questions! ? 1. What shoes do you wear poolside? I need a new pair and you have the best taste! 2. I’m finally getting an Apple Watch!! I’m wondering what your fitness goals are on there? How many calories and steps? Thanks!! Happy Monday!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I typically just wear flip flops around the pool. I have a range from Old Navy to Tory Burch. As for my watch, I always aim for 15,000 steps and 450 active calories. Those seem to be good goals for me!

  3. Karleigh says

    Any updates on Meagan and her family? She looks to be in good spirits in those pictures!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Thank you, Karleigh! The birth mother asked the adoption agency to let Meagan and her family continue to raise Violet.

      • Kathy Lang says

        That is wonderful news about Violet! Thanking God for this answered prayer! 🙂
        The town of McKinney, you and all your friends definitely know how to celebrate the 4th of July! The pictures are great! I especially like the one of Britt, Madeley and Willow–so sweet!

  4. Elspeth Mizner says

    I was looking forward to this post!! I love hearing all the fun things about your town!!

  5. Danielle Rigg says

    Sounds like a wonderful Fourth of July. Quick question…any updates on your friend and her little baby girl? Thin of them often and keep them in my prayers.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Thank you so much for your prayers! Their family is well and Violet is with them.

  6. Danielle Rigg says

    Oops….I am reading backwards this time, we had my daughters 7th Birthday this past week, I feel behind in my blog reading. I just saw your comments from Friday. WONDERFUL, news….prayers are so powerful.

  7. Kimberly says

    Your kids are some of the most darling things I’ve ever seen! McKinney sounds like an awesome place to raise a family. Where did you get your shorts that you wore to the parade? They are so cute!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I found them on some random site online! I’ll have to go back and look. I bought them in like December. Hahahaha! I couldn’t pass them up!

  8. Erika Slaughter says

    Wahoo!!! One of my FAVORITE DAYS EVER!!! We seriously had the best day! And I’ll be looking for some place to slip your name for that committee. ?

  9. Sheaffer Sims says

    What a great day! I mean, you know a parade isn’t my favorite, but these pictures gave me all the feels! Maybe we’ll even come one of these years!!! 🙂

  10. Sandra says

    I know you’ve told us a million times, but what Ray Ban’s do you wear again? I have been searching for a new pair of sunnies!

  11. Meagan Ruse says

    Love our town so much! I look forward to the parade every year! Wasn’t this year extra special?!

  13. Narci Dreffs says

    Aw, what a perfect 4th of July!! We couldn’t have had more fun with your crew! Presley loves her some Kensington and some Frenchie! 😉

  16. Renee King says

    Did I miss where your flag shorts are from? I love them. Now I’ll have to scroll back to see if I can find you tagging them.

  18. Kristen says

    What size is your pool? Looking to build a rectangular pool and yours looks just right.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I have no clue! Hahahaha! Maybe 17,000 gallons? Something like that.

  19. Jill Peterson says

    Through your blog, I have fallen in love with McKinney!! So much so that we have planned a trip to visit in February! I can’t wait to walk the square and see all of the places you have mentioned! Another awesome thing….it will be Winter in Wisconsin and we will see some warm weather in Texas! Any other things we should do besides “the square”??

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Yay!!! You will love it!! You also need to visit Adriatica and of course, Dallas and the other surrounding suburbs! Email me! I can help you when it gets closer with more suggestions!

  20. Rebecca Jo says

    Is this place for real? Its like something out of a move … & is every single person there totally beautiful with gorgeous families? 🙂
    Glad you got to celebrate another great 4th!

  21. Kristin Tate says

    That friend in the cowboy boots always cracks me up in your pics! Does she have a blog??

  22. Kayla Bruce says

    So, so sweet! Sounds like your fourth was a lot more fun than mine; I ended up in the hospital in surgery for an unexpected gallbladder removal. What a pain! Ha. I’m in love with that photo of Britt, Madeley, and Willow. What special stories and so fun to see how far they’ve come since last year!

  23. Julie says

    I want to move to McKinney SO bad after your posts! lol! Can you consider doing a post on a day of meals…like what you and andrew are eating for every meal? Ever since you posted that pic of ALL the eggs i have been so curious how you all eat. I know we have the meal planning posts but this would be like “what i eat and when i eat meals” . Obviously health and wellness are important and i was just wondering what you all followed? Whole foods? Low Carb? Do you carb time? Just lots of questions!

      • Sara says

        So I just placed my first order with Nickel & Suede
        (thanks Sheaffer! ?) But which earrings are the ones you have on? Are they white cork or something else? Medium or Large? They look great on you! Excited to get my order!

  25. Taylor says

    I listened to your interview on the Mom Inspired podcast this morning during my workout! I’ve listened to the ones you’ve done with Jamie Ivey so it was nice to hear another one.

  26. Clare B says

    I was sad to miss 4th of July this year, next year we are headed to downtown McKinney 😉

  28. Angela Ellingson says

    Such a fun and festive day!! Our town’s fireworks got rained out and my oldest had a 103.5°F temp, so not our best 4th but hoping to make up for it next year. 🙂

  29. Jennifer says

    I love this post, I love America and all that we stand for, and I love your sweet family blog that i’ve followed for so many years… and I hardly ever comment…but do you know what I love the most about this post today?? that VIOLET IS WITH HER FAMILY!!!!!!! I just cant hardly stand it!!!!!!! Do you know what happens when Gods people flood the gates with prayers for an individual? He moves mountains! He shows us mercy, grace upon grace, and shows us who is still in charge!!! I have cried so many tears praying for this precious baby girl, it truly broke my heart. and I am just ecstatic to see her with her mommy! Who wants to join in a happy dance with me, because I could BREAK. IT. DOWN!!!!

    xoxoxo Jennifer

  30. Savannah says

    Looks like a fun-filled 4th of July celebrated with family and friends. I saw Megan in your pictures and was going to ask the same question that some have already asked. Absolutely wonderful news! I have been praying for her and her family! So very happy to read that this morning!

  32. Leanne Gilchrist says

    What a fun celebration! Smaller towns are the best! AND, I almost cried when I read about Meagan and Violet!! I’ve been PRAYING about that!!! God is good. Someday, maybe we’ll visit McKinney. We’ve been to San Antonio….I’ll put McKinney on my list! Thanks for just all of the sunshine you post, and thanks for asking us to pray for your heart concerns!

  35. Liz Thorson says

    Shay, I cannot believe I forgot to share my YAHOO??????when you told us Meagan and her family will have Violet forever! I am thrilled for them! I am the mother of two sons adopted at birth decades ago. I am forever thankful to our sons’ birthmothers for their decisions to relinquish their babies so we could have a family. I struggled with fertility issues for a number of years, undergoing two IVF rounds and many IUI treatments. Having never been pregnant and always wanting to be and always wanting to have a handful of children, I cannot imagine the agony of relinquishing your child. We experienced 3 different birthmothers changing their minds about giving their baby up for adoption, choosing to keep and raise the child. Was it the best decision for the child? We will never know but I do have compassion and do imagine that choosing a family for your baby and relinquishment must be absolutely heartbreaking. I am so sorry that Meagan and her family have experienced the very difficult relinquishment struggles two times, but I do understand and accept the struggles for the birthmother. The child(ren’s) welfare and chance for a better future should ALWAYS be paramount but we all know the heart isn’t always rational.
    Your family and friends and your darling town DO know how to celebrate the 4th! I loved the girls’ sun dresses! They looked adorable!

  36. Kelli Badder says

    Please tell me that’s baby Violet that Andrea is holding in the group pic!! ??

  39. Ruth says

    Woohoo!! So happy to hear Violet is with her family. I just wanted to share that when I was praying for them I kept hearing, “God is faithful,” “God is faithful.” And while his faithfulness may look different in good and bad situations, I just had a feeling it was going to be good for the Ruse family.

  40. Becs says

    I just love Madeley and Ashby’s dresses. Could you please tell me what brand they are 🙂

  42. DetroitDuchess says

    I can’t believe how much has happened for you in 16 years! That could be it’s own blog post, lol! Looks like you had a great celebration!

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