what to do after swimming all day?

Dad is at a meeting-

sisters don't come home for 5 more days-

jack is out with friends...

So we,

sit on the porch & light sparklers, of course- 4 boxes-

while eating bing cherry cobbler & ice cream

... after mom reads her new favorite cookbook.

lucky for him-

we saved our last three to do together!
I love SUmMer

July 3rd

We have the most fun for the fourth of July here in our town.

The celebration starts on the third with a children's parade, concert in the park & fireworks. It's my favorite two days of the year!

We take a traditional meal of-

Albertson's fried chicken (my favorite),

shrimp pasta salad,

watermelon &

cupcakes, of course...

WE only eat this meal once a year- so it means a lot to the kids? I don't know why, but we never eat this salad or fried chicken except for on the 3rd. The kids were so excited about the salad.. who knew?

This year - second year in a row-- we had my sister Johnna & her family with us from WA state!

we wish this would become a tradition, it was so fun to have them here.

Next year-

Jack will most likely be gone on a mission, so this was his last year at the park for a while... someday I hope we are all here together again. It would mean the world to me. But, for now- I'm just happy my children are all doing so well, wherever they are!

Trent is currently obsessed with Transformers.

The cartoon & ya- I broke down & let him watch the first Transformer movie.

It's rated PG 13... so as family arrived at our house before the festivities he would announce- "I'm watching a violent movie!!" with excitement. He will NOT be watching the second one currently in theatres- pretty much ever, if I have my way, which I won't.

So- he came along to the park with Optimus Prime in hand- fun- not & the movie with my laptop. This was the second year he hasn't gotten lost & the first year he has not been difficult, so apparently "violent movies" are good for something.

Brittany & Marcus were with us!

They will be married in less than a week- amazing.

Marcus has been with us for the fourth of July for years & it is just more special when he is here. It just feels right.

The band this year, The BEAch ToYs were fantastic!

I will admit I was a little worried when I saw their name...

but seriously the were GREAT!!

-We loved them-

They even look like the beach boys-

It was so fun to be together.

I sure love these girls.

They have been an absolute joy this summer.

They helped me to get ready for company & with dinner, and with Trent- they are awesome.

They are leaving soon for a week with Megan in Arkansas...

I don't know what I will do without them!??

Miraculously the Beach Toys turn into the Monkeys part way through the show, really great stuff here. They really sounded like them & hey- look like them too!

We sat near great friends at the park & here is Cassidy enjoying a cupcake-

I think she is my biggest cupcake fan here.

We even talked to Joy- from Joy's of Home- yep, she only lives a block from me... wow knowing a cool blogger like her is better than knowing a celebrity!
do you read her? she is amazing!

These pictures are especially for Megan & the missionary.

Jack & one of his best friends Zach.

They are going to be college roommates soon.

Cool beans man.

Soon after the Monkeys preformed--

they morphed into

The Beattles
Their best band yet!

Trent found a little friend who wandered over to see what he was watching.

Is she darling or what?

He offered her one of his head phones... so cute.

At least he's nice, I mean- for someone who watches violence??

The fireworks & patriotic music was oh so wonderful....

I have been trying for hours to upload video with this post - with no success.

Maybe later I will try it again?

It was a great day!

MOre on the fourth to come.

picnic & concert in the park

Patriotic - chocolate- filled with chocolate mousse-

cupcakes!

Every year my town has a bike parade, concert in the park & fireworks on the night of July 3rd. On the 4th there's a pancake breakfast, 5K run, parade on main street, carnival in the park & quilt/art show across the street in our elementary school. It's my favorite time of year!

The concert in the park was GREAT this year. My favorite band from 2 years ago came back. They were so great singing lots of earth wind & fire, disco, some buble- we LOVEd it!

We only live 2 blocks from the action, which makes it ExTra fun not having to load up the car & search for parking.

Here's t- at the bike/children's parade... so cute. I missed seeing him in the mass of kids... I was talking to my dear friend charli who just broke her leg really bad a couple of weeks ago. Poor gal.

Jack- he acts like such a tough guy who doesn't like photos-- he's full of it.
He loves to ruin my photos with pictures like this.... teenagers- they think they're funny.

Brittany & clyde eating our traditional dinner-
fried chicken, shrimp salad & watermelon, cupcakes for dessert, of course!

My sweet nephews- in the sun.

ruthie & her daughter...

and the peanut!
Notice the smile?? My nephew taught me to tickle his feet right before the photo to get a smile.
I should have known?

Hailey & chloe

I'm telling you- I've got a cupcake thing goin' on here.

these were extra yummy.

I am naming this one:

manly marcus & cupcake

All the guys & brett doing an impression of jack.

chloe found this heart shaped BBQ potato chip- cool huh?!

We had great seats thanks to Brett staking out our place early.

As it got darker it was so nice outside. Not a mosquito in sight!

Jack- I swear I'm gonna dip his hand in warm water tonight while he's sleeping.

Even thought it's dark I love this picture taken by trent.

The crowd, the loud music- by the end of the night- that guy was completely out of it. He really had been good earlier, but it was really hard for him waiting for the fireworks.

self portrait.

It's been so fun to have my sister's & their family's here.

It makes it easier having megan, tony & brian away. I hope brian's not homesick.

Of course, in his email he let us know he has been transferred. He's only 600 miles from the bottom of South America now & it's winter there. He is in the only area that they are allowed to wear hats & he has one of those big Russian ones. He said on Monday they had 6" of snow.

So- he's not feeling the 4th of July vibe I'm sure.

Pioneer Day 2007

Chloe & Caroline

Trent & Lily

Neighborhood Fireworks

Our "Mall With A Parking Lot"

I loved pioneer day when I was a kid.We always had a ward activity & picnic as far as I can remember.I remember having pioneer parades around the church building. We made shakers out of paper plates & beans, decorated our bikes & dressed like pioneers.My first year living in Utah I was really excited to be here for pioneer day. What a let down. There are no ward activities. There is the days of 47 parade & rodeo downtown, plus fireworks here & there but hey that's it.It is really a day for families, which is great unless you have no extended family here.I miss the old ward pot luck dinners & kids running amuck.

We still had a great day. Brett had the day off & we basically had a restful morning (Trent & I made this "mall with a parking lot" out of blocks then he knocked it down with a "wrecking ball") then we got lots done in the afternoon.Brett & Trent cleaned out the shed, which is now trent's second home.He wants to live there.Brett told him as long as he doesn't touch the gas can for the lawn mower he can pretend to live there all he wants.Tonight we had the Johnson's over for a BBQ, but we had to stay in because it rained.YES it was raining, not a lot but enough to bring us all in the house. I was so happy to see rain I didn't care one bit.Then our wonderful neighbors the Neumeyers were doing fireworks & let us all join in. We have the BEST neighbors.Now I wish I would've put together our own pioneer day potluck, parade, & activities.I really could've & so easily~ I wonder how many other families out there wished they had a potluck to go to~shoot I shouldv'e done it!(Mental note-next year put together pioneer day neighborhood activity)