family, fireworks, and the fourth

Long weekends should happen every week. Am I right? This 4th of July weekend was top notch. We were able to spend it with both sides of our families hiking, tie dying, and of course watching fireworks.

An early morning hike up to lakes Mary and Catherine was gorgeous. We had some laughs as my in-laws didn't turn off to the lake but continued up the summit before realizing they had passed us. A thoroughly enjoyed it considering he slept through 85% of it. Later that evening we spent the summer evening working on our blue & red tie dye shirts (I've since heard more shirts have come out purple than anything else...still need to go pick ours up).

For the 4th, my sister invited us down for her neighborhood's "cul-de-sac of fire" (guys the fireworks they do are insane, you can read about our first experience here). Wasn't sure how A would take to the fireworks so I prepared myself to watch from inside if needed. Well, he just stared at them for a bit and then nodded off to dreamland. He seems to be pretty impartial. So there's that. My favorite moment of the night however, was actually when my brother gave A a potato-bug.

Yes I'm that mom. Have to take advantage of his (mostly) immobile self because then pictures will get significantly more difficult. His two fingers...gah! Thanks babe for being my "instagram husband."

independence day

Red, white and blue...

Best holiday of the year.

2 years ago, my roommates of Park Place #11 camped out for the Freedom Days parade.

It was great stayin up eatin creamies and playing cards. 

our tent 2012

Our friends live in a house right on Center Street and they invited us over to spend the night and to save a place for the parade the next morning. I had remembered enjoying it and thought Tanner should experience it as well. Little did I know, this will not be a family tradition.

The night started off great. 

We ate some pizza, strolled around the bazaars, lit a bunch of sparklers and laid down under the stars.

Only problem was we didn't actually lay down for bed until around 1am .

(mistake #1 - going to bed waaay past your usual bedtime)

You'd figure people would quiet down and get some rest...well they didn't.

(mistake #2 - thinking we'd actually get a couple hours of sleep)

4am rolls around and the squatters come out. People were hovering over any empty piece of grass ready to claim as much space as possible to ensure a good seat for the parade. 

(mistake #3 - you couldn't actually save any spots until 5am so we had to be ready to pounce on a spot, thus getting up for an hour)

6am some lady with a microphone and large speakers thought it was a good idea to blast some music and have an air guitar competition.

(mistake #3 - tried to get a little bit more of sleep in before the parade started)

By that point it was no use trying to get some sleep. Instead tried to be positive about not getting ANY sleep. Took a couple pictures of people trying to sleep.

squirly eyes

enjoyed watching the hot air balloons

Was it fun making memories? Yes of course. I would just prefer getting actual sleep. Next year if we are in Provo, we can just run the 5k instead.

After a bbq at my in-laws, we enjoyed a win for RSL.

Topped the night off with an after game firework show in the stadium.

The fun didn't stop on the 5th of July. 

My sister invited us over to watch their neighborhood "Cul de Sac of Fire."

I can't think of a better title for this event because it literally speaks for itself.

Before the show they had a dunk tank, chalk art competition, and a bike parade (this little guy got his training wheels off just this week so he could ride in the parade).

Okay can you all please just take a second to appreciate this plate. I couldn't help but sneak a picture of this kid's plate of nothing but dessert. A kids dream.

Of course they shot off a bunch of plastic parachuters. This little guy tried so hard to catch one...

I always try to take pictures of the fireworks and then just end up deleting all of them because they never look as good as they do in person. Sometimes you just got to put your phone away and enjoy. 

the aftermath

Through out the show, you'd get pegged by the debree from the fireworks.

It sounded like it was raining with all the ash and chunks that flew down.

Chunks bigger than quarters were flyin. Yikes! Luckily no injuries to report. Just a bunch of ash in my hair.

Happy Independence Day America!

"The Declaration of Independence to which these great men affixed their signatures is much more than a political document. It constitutes a spiritual manifesto—revelation, if you will—declaring not for this nation only, but for all nations, the source of man’s rights." 

–Ezra Taft Benson