a fourth of july recap

I love Independence day!

Everyone who knows me...

knows- it is my very favorite holiday- by a long shot!

I love the flags flying, the patriotic music, picnics, parades & all things red, white & blue.

This year as I write this post- I can't help but wonder??

where are the photos of the flag?

I didn't take any photos of my sweetheart & me together?

dang it!!

oh well, it was a great weekend & these will have to do :)

Around 4:00 on the 2nd- my sister Johnna & BIL Clyde arrived for the weekend.


They had their daughter Aimee with them & I was so EXCIted & SURpriSed that I got all teary & nearly started to cry!!!
I hadn't seen aimee in way too long.
She's Lola's mom. (I sent her the Lola quilt a while back, if you remember?)

Marcus, Brittany, Brit & Aimmee

Ruthie's family came too.

We headed over to the concert in the park. With fried chicken, my special 4th of July shrimp salad, veggies & dip, glass bottles of soda, and these- mmmm

I have to admit- I was really missing Jack.

Missionary Jack loves the 4th... and all that goes with it. He is a history major & knows American history better than anyone I know.

BUT-- It was SO GREAT TO HAVE...

Brian with us!!!

This is his first- 4th home & it was glorious to have him here. Just think- last year I was missing him? Only one more 4th until Jack is back- (speaking of the missionary, I am working on a big Missionary Jack update to publish soon, hopefully tomorrow.)

Marcus & Brian posed for Jack

the concert was amazing.

The band made up of 15-18 year olds from around the state.

YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE they were teens!

They played big band music- a lot of michael Buble type stuff, it was fabulous.
They were so good & so talented.

Brittany & Marcus

Last year they were engaged- they celebrate their first anniversary on Sunday!

The fireworks did not dissapoint. they were specatcular - although

They usually go off to patriotic music.

NOt this year...

we were sorely dissapointed.

Actually I was pretty ticked off- Brian too.

WE had talked earlier in the day about how beautiful & emotional it is to watch fireworks while listening to America The Beautiful & the like...

they played movie show tunes? BLAH- Maybe it's a good thing Jack missed it?

Bright & EArly

on the 3rd- we were in our spot for the parade!

Trent sported his coon skin cap-

if you want one? RuN down to a gas station between here & St. George- hurrry quick!!!

(that was sarcasm)

hey-

there's some flags!

There were service men & women- love that- and great floats.

Cool cars with kids throwing candy to the audience.

and this exterminator type company with this guy in a bee suit.

I took his picture because I could just imagine Jack making fun of him...

Oh funny

I'm sure that was the "old jack" not the new & improved missionary jack?

It was perfect weather & so fun to be all together.

After the parade we headed home, then off to the park for the carnival food & quilt show.

Clyde & trent had a GREat time.

Trent spent their whole visit being Clyde's shadow. so cute.

He spent the rest of the 4th washing all of our cars.

Or should I say, putting extremely hard to get off water spots on all of our cars?

While the boys were watching a movie- the girls ran to target. When we came home trent had filled up the back of Brett's truck with water- house water-? So not cool. Brett backed up the truck & dumped it on the lawn. He had just a little too much water freedom & two old burned out parents. I guess that's what you get as the youngest of six- periods of freedom we would have never let the older kids have to get into mischief.

We went to sacrament meeting on the 4th-

what a delight

Then after lunch it was time for the gilsons to go.

dang

Brian took this lovely photo of Johnna & I.

lookin' good- or drunk?

no, we were not drinkin' after sacrament meeting.

better!

It was so GREAT to have you guys here!

we miss you