Happy 4th of July!

July 21, 2015

Happy 4th of July!

July 4, 2015

This year was probably my favorite 4^th of July of all time. We started out bright and early with the Freedom Run down in Provo. (This is our 3^rd time doing that run. It’s a really fun 5k). The kids and I did the 5k and Jeff did the 10k. It wasn’t too hot and the kids did great. Mikey was my partner and we walk/ran it. I tried to get him to run every other block but he wasn’t that interested. At one point he told me, “Mom, you’re pushing me too hard!” Mikey wanted to hold my hand the entire time—walking or running—so we did. It was adorable! Jeff did the 10k in 48 minutes! He is amazing! Of course we stopped at Krispy Kreme on the way home to immediately consume any calories we burned on the run. I think it’s ridiculous but of course the kids LOVE that part of the tradition.

We came home and got the house ready for our big pool party BBQ that night. And I might have caught a quick little power nap too! We had been talking about the Freedom Festival carnival all week and the kids had saved up their money to be able to go. I had told them all week long that we would be happy to take them but we would not be spending our money, they had to use their own for this. This helped me motivate them to keep moving the never-ending mulch/bark pile sitting in front of our house. Kira and Calvin didn’t want to waste their money on the carnival so they stayed home and moved more mulch to earn more money. Jeff and I took the three youngers back down to Provo to experience the carnival. It was super lame. The kids were immediately taken in by the Midway games with hopes of winning giant stuffed animals. We tried to explain that it was a waste of money but they needed to experience it for themselves. After an hour or so they had each spent about $7 or $8 and won a tiny stuffed animal. They were out of money and hot and sweaty and ready to go home. We got some cotton candy for the road and headed back for the pool party. It was actually a great learning experience for them about the value of a dollar! It’s a lot more painful to spend your own money than it is to spend Mom and Dad’s money!

Ted and Cindy, Linda and Steve, Clint and Carmen, some of the college cousins and the Tillmans all came over for the big party. We grilled kabobs and chicken and played in the pool for hours. We ended the night with 16 or so of us up on the roof, tucked under blankets, watching the panorama of fireworks on the horizon. You could see probably 4 or 5 major fireworks shows and then several neighborhood shows. Kira and Garrett played the guitar and we all sang the Star Spangled Banner. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day. I felt so grateful for such an awesome family, amazing friends and this beautiful country we have the freedom to enjoy.