Fourth of July

Fourth of July started with the Provo Parade . . . Fourth of July always starts with the Provo Parade. 

This year we found some good parking in the church parking lot, but it wasn't open parking (there was a sign) . . . so we figured Micheal Ann's temple recommend would do as a parking pass if there was any questions. 

Of course Zoey came - it was her first Fourth of July celebration after all.

Jeff, Addie and Micheal Ann (behind Jeff). 

Jeff - Always the camera hog . . . 

And onto craft time - 

A variation of Tied Dyed shirts that Olivia learned how to do from Jackie and Diane while she was in Maine.  Definitely a hit. 

Olivia is quite the photo bomber. 

And of course Ansen went with Yankees. 

We went to Lehi to watch the Thanksgiving Point fireworks and had some in impromptu smore's . . .  

 . . . in our new shirts of course. 

4th 2012

Parade, parade, parade . . . Mom and Dad got awesome seats this year, so we nominated them to be in charge of place reservations every year . . . we'll see if that flies.  It's our turn next year. 

We got Halle for the holiday!

Lisa went head to head with me and competed for favorite aunt.

It's one of her old tactics from last year. 

It worked because Drew has not forgotten . . . here he is hunkered down waiting his turn. 



The 4th of July is a pretty routine holiday.  Always the parade and bagels, Mom and Dad's house for naps, games and BBQ . . .

The two youngest became better acquainted.  Susan sure was patient and Halle sure did love her.  If Susan was under the table, Halle was under the table. 

Halle laughed and laughed when Susan would lick her (sorry Kendall) and then lay there with her eyes closed, smiling waiting for Susan to come in for more.  

We always do fireworks at home and then drive around for awhile looking for the perfect spot to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks. 

After we drive around, we drive around some more.

We eventually find somewhere, watch the fireworks and then head home.  It's routine, but it's good and we love it. 

Freedom Festivites!

Was this not the best 4th of July ever since they legalized the big, in-the-sky fireworks?!  Seriously the best ever!  Not because we bought any, only because we could see about 3-4 separate amazing (and probably VERY expensive) fire works shows going on right from my parents' driveway! 

This is Lisa's favorite holiday and I think I'm ready to move it into #2 position on my personal list . . . especially after this year!

First off . . . the parade and bagels.  And we started the morning off with a child throwing up again (the 3rd year of 5 years) but we rebounded and made it right in time for the beginning of the parade.   The best part was the Star Wars float and the army (would you call it that?) that accompanied the float. 
Seriously, best part.

Since Halle and Kendall weren't planning on staying this long, we had to dig out this cute fourth of July outfit for her and clearly she loved it!

BBQ, watermelon, BBQ'd corn on the cob, home-made ice-cream.

We played games outside in the PERFECT weather. 

Luckily Matt is a meteorologist so we were able to plan around the weather.

We did a craft project with finger paints . . . no set subjects, just create as you will. 
We were all very happy with the way things turned out.  I think some people would have gone further with their masterpieces had the sprinklers not turned on right in the middle of the project.

There was just something about sitting in the driveway hearing and watching fireworks going off all over the place.  Trying to see through our own thick haze of smoke and watching these 3 grown men turn into

. . . idiots!

Lisa saw a side of Matt she never knew existed as he (practically) aimed roman candles right at their car. 
My Dad dug out the stash of fireworks he had confiscated from Ryan in his high school days.  Ansen, who doesn't leave the toaster plugged in was picking up and holding the fireworks that tipped over.  They all had lighters, they had Jeff's stash of bottle rockets zooming all over the driveway and not one of them was concerned about trees, houses, or for the safety of the children . . . as long as they were having fun! 

Jeff was in on it too, but when he came to the party with this backpack specifically used only for hauling fireworks with the boys . . . there was no surprise with him as to what happened next.

And the night before with the pre-show . . . Drew tried to snag a drink of soda out of the firework can.

And at the end of it all, we had to say goodbye to Halle (and Kendall) since they were flying home the next day!  We are so glad they let us keep talking them in to staying longer and longer!

After a busy week, Lisa and Matt'ss wedding, our big family reunion and then straight into a holiday weekend, Drew is definitely worse for the wear . . . he's out right exhausted.

The 4th . . . late!

Catch up . . .

On the 3rd of July we decided to go "big" and go over to the neighbor's house that has the perfect view of Thanksgiving Point.  Luckily we got there 10 minutes early because the fireworks started 3 minutes early and then ended in 3 minutes.  It was the saddest, little firework show I think I've ever seen.  So we packed up and went home . . . wow, what fun (heavy, heavy sarcasm)!

Then nothing big for the actual 4th, but on the 5th (Utah style) we went to the Provo parade - like always.  Ansen "sacrificed" this year and went early to save a place.  We always have Einstein bagels, cream cheese and OJ, this year courtesy of Lisa and Banna. 

I'm trying to remember since it's been so long, but I'm pretty sure the parade did not disappoint this year and hey, I managed NO sunburn this year. 

And here's the proof that I was actually there.  See me behind that cute, crying baby, packing up the stroller in the background there . . . So, yes I was there. 

Then BBQ and a professional game of croquet.  Apparently I've just made up my own rules to croquet my whole life.  We used to play at my Grandma's all the time. 

I've always known I was married the Farmington, ME croquet champion (we still have the croquet set he won), but I did not realize the extent to which this should have impressed me. 

So, we played croquet with the right rules and it turned out to be a little long.  Ansen won of course . . . he's a champion, afterall. 

And this year, rather than going with my usual efforts to ruin holidays (family joke) I made a great contribution of fruit pizza.  And John Watkins: Gelato Maker made us some great gelato!

Matt was really impressed with my fruit pizza and rightfully he should have been!  There it is in all its beauty on that small, pretty tablecloth, I mean plastic bag.

We always start with the Provo Parade and Einstein bagels, then a BBQ, neighborhood party and fire works. Though this year we decided to throw a couple of things for extra fun this year . ..

1. Addison threw up first thing, we thought it was too much junk from the neighborhood party the night before. But then when she threw up at the parade and later at Banana's house and we all took our turns being sick the next week we realized it wasn't just the party.

2. A little power struggle with Olivia to wear Red, White or Blue like the rest of the family. Come on it's the 4th! You'll see in the pictures I did win. You know as a parent you have to pick your battles and I couldn't let this one go.

3. We all got slightly different and mostly wrong directions to our location at the parade. We took an extra 2 block detour with a huge stroller and a sick Addison (we feel horrible we made her walk all over before we realized she was really sick). Lisa and Katie took a hour long route to the Parade carrying our large diet cokes (with ice at one point) and bagels all over Provo. The parade (company, food and tradition) was, as usual, worth the effort.

4. Our Aruba trip inspired Dad to become John Watkins:Gelatto Maker. His first batch he threw (or sprayed with the beaters) all over the kitchen including the ceiling. It finally froze after everyone had left the BBQ. Since then he's become VERY efficient at it, so next year is sure to be a treat.

5. I poured salad dressing all over my mom's fridge. The clean up necessitated pulling EVERYTHING out of the fridge. That was also a little fun twist to the afternoon.

6. And lastly, after mulling it over we finally did decide to watch the BYU fireworks (we were all exhausted and by this point we were aware that Addison really was sick). So a good 20 minutes later we finally found a place to park (mind you we drove one street over) and a good 10 minutes later we found a place for our chairs. We watched the last 3 fireworks and packed up. As we pulled out, the fireworks started up again, so we did catch a few quality moments of the grand finale.