4th of July 2013 - part 2

Once the parade is over we are back for the cookout and eventual water fight.  This year we had that cute dog to keep us company.   My kids were all clamoring to get one just like her.

When we get together there are so many cute little kids wandering around.  It's fun watching my nieces and nephews in the same stage as I so fondly remember my own siblings in.  Let me tell you these kids are fun to watch.

There is always target practice.  Seriously it makes me cringe every time someone gets hit.  Which usually happens when a wife or girl friend is the one aiming and the significant other is on the fence, motivation is a powerful tool.

See?  Cute, right?

Then the buckets come out, and a lot of us move to the deck that is the unofficial "safe zone".

Team work.

This tug of war went on for about 5 minutes, neither one wanted to give up.

This has to be one of my favorite shots.  My nephew was lucky enough to marry this cute girl and she is pretty darn great.  I think this is the first year that they were able to make the water fight cookout, and apparently he decided a little initiation was in order.  She has a blog that I love, and shared some great photos from today.  

The fire works were delayed this year for an hour.  We waited and right before we were getting ready to leave they started.  As always a great show.  Another successful holiday, lots of great memories.  I'm just a little annoyed with myself that I didn't get any pictures of my brother and his wife.  They stayed the weekend and we had an enormous amount of fun.  I love it when they come up.

Until next year........

4th of July 2013

We started our morning at 6:30 at the annual community breakfast.  The men behind the griddle are men that I grew up watching cook for our ward with one or two additions.  It's fun to see them, it's like a reminder of my childhood,

I think that was a portion of the pile that they fed everyone with.

I tell you there is something about a breakfast that is cooked outside and by men, it screams HOLIDAY!!

Then it was off to the parade.  I don't know that we would miss seeing the parade but we would miss being with everyone.  Dustin and his family came up to visit and we love it when that happens.  My kids count the days when they find out they are coming for a visit and it just doubles the fun when it happens to be on the 4th of July.

There are always a couple of flybys before the parade starts.  This just might be Troy and J.T.'s favorite "float".

The sirens started and this cutie wanted none of it, so mom and grandma saved the day by covering his ears. He was so still and didn't wiggle at all, adorable.

The parade always means running into good friends and Cambelle saw a friend from school.

Eldred Stephenson was the grand marshal of the parade and it was well deserved.  He turned 100 this year, we got to know this incredible individual before we moved last time.  He is kind, strong and such an example to everyone who knows him.  And he looked so handsome in his uniform.

The Veteran's float followed close behind Eldred.  This by far is always my favorite.  I watch these men and women who have served our country and I find myself a little in awe.  I wondered what they have seen, and experienced and how it has changed them.  I wonder about their families.  I find myself so grateful for these heroes who once a year (which I don't believe is enough) pass by me as I applaud.  Such a small gesture, but for certainly a sincere one.

Sara was in the parade for ballroom this year, she had a blast.

I love this picture of her.  She looks so happy.

I love this one of her too.  Notice the cute tongue, it comes out when she is concentrating and I think it is adorable.

Happy 4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July.  I am so very grateful to live in this country.  We have had a fantastic time with family.  I love that the weekend is just starting.  Definitely more fun to come.

Best Friends

These two sweeties are two of my favorite girls.  Cambelle is lucky enough to have her cousin as her best friend.  Their eyes light up when they see each other and they run off and are totally content to spend all their time in their own little world.  The last time she was up Sara did a "photo shoot"  I couldn't help but post some of my favorites.

The only thing that would make this friendship better is if they lived a little closer to each other.

Miles update-100

We reached 100 miles of our 500 mile goal.  Which was quite a feat considering we were gone to Utah two different times and Sara and J.T. were gone for a week.  So, yay us!!  

The first reward was to try sno cones at this place that said they had "Hawaiian shaved ice".....they lied.  We decided we needed to try all the little shacks in town and find the best one, because this one was not.  We did have a nice time just talking about summer plans and what they were excited for.

Bowling was also on one of these first cards we earned.  Just a quick game, with a lot of smiles and decent scores at the end.

Have I ever told you how much I like this guy?

Then we stopped by the frozen yogurt place that you can fill your own cup and choose your own toppings.  I should have taken a picture of J.T.'s after he had filled it up, gummie worms, nerds and hot fudge, hmmm?

One thing that I love about my kids is they ALWAYS say thank you.  I know they appreciate these little things because they are so quick to acknowledge their gratitude, and they always say "Mom and Dad", it makes me feel like they see us as a team.  Or maybe they are just smart enough to realize that when they show gratitude it is a lot easier for mom and dad to want to do things for them.  Either way I love it.

My Heart is Home

I heard a mother once say that to become a mother meant that pieces of your heart were walking around outside your body.  I kind of agree and this last week two of the pieces of my heart were far away from me at camp.  Sara was at girls camp and had a blast.  J.T. was at an Encampment for the scouting program and Cambelle and I spent some time together.  Honestly I was a bit of a mess at the beginning of the week.  Even though they can get on my nerves, leave wet towels on the bathroom floor, and not listen to me more often than I like, I love them and when they are not here I miss everything about them.

Cambelle was a lot of fun to be with this week, we went on a good long bike ride, got ice cream, watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and went to lunch with Troy.  She was also a great sport as I dragged her to a number of places to make decisions on our bathroom remodel that we are in the middle of.  I love being with this little girl.  She has a great sense of humor and makes me smile.  I am so glad she was around this week because I don't know what I would have done without her.

J.T. spent a few days at this crazy big encampment that had 10,000 people there.  Yes, you read that right, 10,000.  I saw a picture of a portion of the group and all I could think was "my sweet J.T. is somewhere in that mess, he is going to get lost, I just know it."  But he didn't, and he had so much fun.  They had a BMX track, a climbing wall, zip line, archery, shooting range, and a lot of other things that make boys feel like men and men feel like boys.  He came home tired, dirty, and really dark from the neck up and shoulders down.

Just think 10,000 moms and wives welcomed dirty feet like these home.

I know right?  

I love that smile.

Sara was invited to go to the girls camp with the ward the Troy's parents just recently moved from.  They have welcomed her with open hearts and arms and my mothers heart loves each leader and young woman for what they shared with her this week.  She came home a little cleaner than J.T. but still not really wanting her picture taken.

I am so grateful they are home.  I love that they were able to spread their wings, find out a little about themselves, grow a little into who they are becoming.  And I love that they are back, and that I can hug them any time I want, even if it bugs them a little.