The 4th of July

I say it every year! I LOVE the 4th of July! I really do! 

I think I love it so much more when we are in Utah and I get to spend it with all our family!

And it wouldn't be the 4th of July unless we went to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade. 

(Which of course requires an very early morning for most everyone.)

 Curtis, my mom, Kambryn, Jantsen and I went down to reserve a spot at 5:45am.  Also, Kara was so sweet to come down with Lydia to help save spots for our big group.

We really lucked out this year and were able to join in with the Zions Bank employees...but considering the manager of the bank was our neighbor all growing up and one of our closest family friends.  It worked out FANTASTIC! 

Favorite spot for the parade is at the very beginning and we didn't have to even fight anyone from trying to sit in front of us. I hate it when that happens.

 Kyle and Talan joined us at about 7:45.  We had some muffins and fruit for breakfast and were all excited for the parade. (yes and Talan DOES need a haircut. But I keep resisting thinking it will grow to the cute shaggy look. Oh well... He is just cute no matter what though.)

 When I woke Kambryn up at 5:30 to get ready she was pretty warm with a fever. No other symptoms, just a fever. I told her she could go down with Kyle later, but she really wanted to come and see the balloons. Unfortunately because of a little wind, they didn't even send off the hot air balloons. Jantsen, Kambryn, Lydia, and even Kara and myself were pretty disappointed. Cute Lydia (not even 2...kept saying "Mommy, I see balloons." So cute! Provo owes you Lydia!! Next year for sure!

*you can see Kambryn's growing spider bite on her right leg in that picture. Seriously it was like the size of a tumor by the afternoon!*

 Poor Kambryn just laid on the blanket for the first hour or so, but after a dose of Tylenol she was ready to go and see all the floats, and hopefully the "pretty princesses" (the city royalties).

It was cute. She would run up to each group of girls in their dresses, almost like we were at Disneyland and she was seeing the princesses. She wanted to give them a hug but didn't know what exactly they were going to do. It was cute. Oh my girly girl. She loves pretty dresses and sparkly things.

She is a brave one too.  One float had a bunch of balloons by it and she wanted one, so she just walked right up to the guy and asked if she could have one...she did say please.

I really never thought she would do that. Jantsen would never do that, unless I came with him.  Kambryn is just getting so big and old. I love it though!

 The cute boy cousins!! Jantsen likes to play the big older brother/cousin with these guys.

Tayden and Talan must be looking at a big truck or the army trucks or something.

Boys!!

 The girls happy to be hanging out in the sun, with some coloring stuff.

 Our Gang!

(Stouts, Simmons, Grandma Nana, Gpa and Gma Graham, Curtis, Andersons and the Smiths)

I love that my in-laws and my family get along so well. It is tradition that we all sit together! 

I am glad that we all can have so much fun together!

Even if they have to come to BYU Cougar Town!

My Mom and Dad and Curt and Kambryn. 

Love them all!

Uncle Greg, Lydia, and Kambryn.

Lydia and Kambryn were loving dancing and looking at the pretty floats. Kambryn wouldn't even come sit by me because she was having so much fun with Lydia.

 Poor Eme has a fear of Loud noises.  She even had cotton balls in her ears too.

This was a good picture of her. For the first part she wouldn't even look at the parade.

But a little coloring and Kambryn sitting by her, she eventually took her fingers out of her ears and was having a great time.

 The Anderson's and cute little 2 mo. old baby Bryant. 

First 4th of July as a family of 3!

 Okay so Talan LOVED loved loved the parade! Don't let this picture fool you. He is actually really happy. He would dance when the bands came by, he would wave when the floats came by, he would point at the horses and big trucks.  He had to make sure that who ever was around him was watching what he was seeing too. What a little cutie!

 Red, White and Blue!

Looking all festive!

The beginning of the parade!

(Jantsen's favorite part was the fly-over of the jets, and of course the acrobatic biking stunt guys.)

The last and final band of the parade. Talan getting his groove on!

The End!

I already can't wait until next years parade!

After the parade we went up to Grandma Nana's house for some lunch, slip and sliding and games.

Talan fell asleep on the way up (that's what you get when you wake him up early, plus have been driving from Missouri the days before and no naps.) We were going to wake him up but he needed a nice long nap, he slept for almost 4.5 hours!

Kambryn was getting really hot when we got to Kyle's mom's house so she just slept on Evelyn's bed and watched cartoons the ENTIRE time to.  By now, her spider bite was huge!

But everyone else had a great time. 

Evelyn has the perfect hill for a slip and slide. Next year maybe I can convince Greg and Kara to bring out their huge slip and slide for some adult sliding too. (not that this little one kept Jeremy and Greg from going down it too).

We ended the day at my parents with some pizza and intent on doing fireworks. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great. Rain and fireworks just don't sound that fun to me.

So we are saving them until the 24th (or as Jantsen likes to think...the 25th for his birthday)

Well that is the wrap up of our 4th of July.

We love the USA!