Fourth of July Festivities

I love to be in Utah for the 4th of July for many reasons - one being that it's not too hot to go outside and another is that we have so many family traditions!  

On the Saturday before the 4th we went to see the hot air balloons in Provo with the Thompson family.  Then we had breakfast across the street at Chad & Cindy's apartment with the whole crew.  There's something kind of magical about hot air balloons to me, and the kids are always fascinated by them as well.

When we got back to the Hale's house later that morning, the kids all played together while the daddies went golfing.  Grandma Nancy always pulls out all the stops and has fireworks for the kids, they swim in her hot tub, play in her jumping house, and eat lots of ice cream dibs and otter pops.  Then when the boys got back, we had lunch and the boys re-built their fireworks for tank wars or something?  Whatever they were doing with the fireworks, entertained them for a couple hours.  

That night we went to a BBQ at Aunt Marilyn's house and swam in her pool.  All of the boy cousins played a serious game a water basketball, and the girls chatted.  And thanks to Val's photography, I actually got in some pictures! 

Then after putting Andrew to bed, we headed over to sit outside the Stadium of Fire to watch the fireworks with my family.  I'm not sure it's worth the long walk back to the car, but we always have a good time (and Rachel particularly liked staying up so late).  And I missed this, but apparently Grandpa Thompson got a ride to his car on the back of my dad's motorcycle - wish I couldn't have seen that!

Such a sweet picture of Papa Wally

Love this picture, because it's what everyone wants to do when they see Andrew!

{all pictures above taken by Val Hale}

Rachel with cousin, Liam (same age) waiting for the fireworks to start

Not sure if I was supposed to be in this picture with Chad, Cindy & Logan but it's proof I was there - I'll take it!

On Monday, we started the day with the kid's fun run and then headed over the parade.  Kyle, Chad & Cade were kind enough to save our spots the day before and spend the night with very little sleep.  Is the Provo parade worth that?  Absolutely not.  But it's in the name of tradition.

We attended two more BBQ's that day.  The first was with the Hale extended family, which is always exciting with the annual candy drop and waterfight.  Andrew and I snuck out before we got wet, but I heard Brandon did great as the celebrity candy dropper, Jimmer Fredette.

The last of the festivities was another BBQ with the Thompson family and we didn't stay the whole time because we were obviously exhausted and stuffed!  (Although I said I wouldn't eat at the second BBQ, but totally had a burger with all the fix-ins and a few side dishes... oh and dessert if we're being truthful.)

Oh how I love the Fourth in Utah!!

I had this taken BEFORE the parade, because everyone usually seems to be hot and grumpy by the end.  :)

Patiently waiting

Bubba didn't really "get" the whole parade thing (like Father, like Son) - he took a nap in daddy's arms but I did manage to get a shot of him sitting in Rachel's princess chair while she wasn't looking