July 4th

This is the first summer since we have been married that we have been in our own home and doing our own little 4th of July traditions. We have loved all the years past that we have spent with family, watching fireworks and going to parades, and last year we were at the cabin on the 4th, but this year was really something special.

We spent the morning doing yard work and then Patrick had to go into work for a few hours. But when he returned, we had a fun-filled, super-simple party. We made baked potatoes and Sesame Chia Chicken with Flag Fruit Pizza for dessert. And while I still have no flags or July 4th decorations (maybe next year??), we used our red-checked tablecloth and ate outside in the warm sunshine.

After dinner, I decided to engage the family in some good old-fashioned festivities. I planned 4 games, but we only had time for 2. First up was the three-legged relay race, and then we had gunny sack races. Let's just say that Tate and I had a blast. :) Easton was having a rough day and so was Maylie. They cried most of the time about one thing or another. Maybe next year they'll enjoy themselves more. :)

Cleaning up the kitchen took forever. (Is it just me, or does holiday/fun party clean-up feel like the aftermath of a natural disaster?) Then we gathered up quilts and a few books and headed off to Fireworks in a nearby town.

Sitting there, in a wide open park of a farming town, with just a few families scattered here and there and listening to the locals taking turns singing their favorite songs of America was ever so peaceful. I felt joy brimming up like liquid gold as we all cuddled underneath our queen-sized quilt and watched the sky grow dusky.

The fireworks started at promptly 10:00 and we all made wishes on our favorite fireworks. Maylie loved the purple ones, Easton's favorite liked any colorful ones that all exploded at the same time, and Tate liked the thunder-sounding ones. The show lasted exactly 11 minutes. Short and sweet and just perfect for our little family.

I really am so deeply grateful for this promised land of America that we live in and the freedoms we enjoy. The older I get and the more that I learn about the wickedness and evils that go on throughout the world (and even here in our own country and state), the more and more grateful I become for the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me. This nation is sacred. And it's protected--so long as we do not harden our hearts and strive to keep the commandments. In God I trust. God bless America, and may we ever be covenant-keepers and strong witnesses of our Savior Jesus Christ in all we do and say.

Our 4th.

We found out that our little town does a darling little parade each year.  It goes for a block, starting at the church and ending at the park.  The boys got a whole hatful of candy.  Then at the park the boys played on every bouncy-house/slide imaginable.  Though timid at first, they were thrilled within minutes and didn't want to leave.  There was so much to do and the whole little town was there (maybe 200 people??)  Tate was the only one brave enough to get in the trout pool.  All of the kids were catching trout with their hands to take home and cook up for supper.  Tate just watched the fish swim around his feet and Easton thought they might bite him so he opted to watch from the sidelines. We left with a toy airplane and a squishy frog from the fish pond and nice suntan lines.

One little sad story: I decided to start walking the stroller back to the car telling Patrick and the boys to catch up with me when they were done with their last two bounces...but I forgot that the boys' shoes were in the stroller.  I was a few feet from the car when I turned around and saw this sad scene behind me.  Poor Patrick (and the boys) had walked nearly a mile like this:

When we got home, we all crashed for a nap and then Nana and Papa came over for a nice little visit.  We played and ate sandwiches, watermelon, chips, and salad.  Nana brought her famous sugar cookies all decorated as stars with blue frosting and red sprinkles.  I think I ate 7?

It was neat to explain to the boys about what the 4th of July means.  I'm not sure if they understood it completely, but maybe next year we can dive a little deeper.

At the Cabin.

Off to throw rocks in the creek

4th of July cookies

 Nana telling all about Samuel the Lamanite for Family Home Evening

 Then we all acted it out...every day.

Samuel on the wall

Grandiose Display of {mini} Fireworks

Due to our 12:30 church, Sundays are always long and tiresome resulting in early bedtimes for the boys since naps are impossible.  So, it was unfortunate that our fireworks had to be on a Sunday this year.  When they started, the boys had been asleep for about 3 hours and Patrick and I were in our pajamas watching a movie.

I asked Patrick to pause the movie so we could listen to them for a minute.  He got up quickly and told me he'd be right back...he had a surprise.  What?!  I was thinking?  A surprise?  {As a busy grad student, Patrick would be the first to admit that surprises are few and far between (of course I completely understand...most of the time :) }

Anyway, he was back a few minutes later with his iTouch in hand.

Thank you sweetheart for your thoughtfulness.  I really did have tears welling up in my eyes during the show.  It was the best 4th of July surprise I have ever received...and probably the most uniquely special fireworks show I've ever seen.

I love you.

July...

Visit our Fragrant Bliss Blog to see our July BOGO Special...

And Happy Fourth of July!

P.S. I love this photo.  I think it represents the noble feelings we all have tucked away in our hearts for this blessed country that God has given us.  May we remember God's gift of this country this 4th amidst all of the parties, the barbecues, fireworks, and festivities.  May we never forget...the real reason we celebrate.  We are truly truly blessed.

Happy 4th!

Of course it was a splendid 4th for our family! Patrick didn't have school Thursday or Friday so we drove down to our new apartment and repainted practically the WHOLE thing. Boy was it a job! My mom and sisters drove up to help. While Nicole and Natalie watched Easton and Tate, my mom, Patrick, and I tackled the painting job. We had no idea how dirty it was until we started painting. Whew! Thursday we worked until 10:30 pm before calling it quits and Friday we finally finished everything by about 6:30 pm. I think Patrick was ready to be done before we even started, but I actually enjoyed my first painting job. You can imagine his horror when after we finished on Friday night I started expressing my displeasure at one of the colors I had chosen. Thankfully, I loved it once it dried! Thanks to my mom (who is quite a painting pro I've come to find), we now have a newly painted apartment to move into in just a few weeks.

As for the holiday, Patrick and Pop went down to Utah to pick up a desk while Gram, me, and the boys played outside with bubbles and in the kiddie pool.

After a nice dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers, we ran to the store to pick up a few more things for our apartment. When we left it was clear skies and sunny. As we left the store, however, it was a downpour. The sidewalks were flooding, and I was pretty sure the fireworks would be cancelled. But, alas, someone must have covered them up, for at 10:30, the fireworks began blasting and we all curled up in blankets to go watch them in the chilly rainy air. All in all, it was a fantastic weekend!