Fourth of July

This year for the 4th of July, we went to church, came home and had lunch and a nap. For dinner we had the classic hot dog and hamburger picnic dinner. We let the kids ride bikes which we don't normally do on Sundays. Jaxton even showed us how he can now reach and peddles and push himself on his bike. It is amazing how fast he learns and picks things up from the other kids. (I am happy he is no longer scrapping his shoes on the ground when he rides.) Then after cleaning-up we got ready and went to the park for fireworks.

This was our first year actually watching the fireworks from the park since we have lived here. It has always been from a distance because we figured it would be too crazy trying to get good seats since half the valley pretty much camps there all day. This year we braved the crowd, which was mostly settled down in their spots by the time we arrived, and managed to get great seats! There was an older couple who told us that they always come to that spot every year and that it was the best spot. They were right! Maybe we will see them next year. The kids were all excited to see the fireworks and could hardly wait. Kelseaja kept asking me when they were coming. Austin hadn't really seen big fireworks up close before and since he couldn't see them yet he figured they weren't going to start. He kept wanting to go home and do sparklers instead. Makayla was just being goofy climbing over Adam, and Jaxton got a little grumpy because he couldn't figure out what we were doing. he hasn't seen fireworks close up either. When the show started, all the kids were glued to the sky. They loved the fireworks! For the city cutting back this year, we couldn't tell. Even the couple behind us thought they did an awesome job and said that things were synced a lot better than last year. We did have to walk a few blocks back to the van, but overall the kids behaved, we had good seats, and the show was really good.

When we got home we did our own little package of fireworks. Usually, our neighbors are around and we combine fireworks, but this year they left. We invited a new neighbor over to join us. After our package of somewhat boring fireworks were finished. Then we all did some sparklers. The kids had so much fun with the sparklers and also poppers that they were sad when it was all over and they had to go to bed.

In the end we remember all the sacrifices made by many men and women through out the years for us to be able to live in this great nation. And while it is not perfect and many of our freedoms are being threatened right now. I love it here and feel very blessed for everything we have. GOD BLESS AMERICA!