Fourth of July Celebration

This Fourth of July, our family, along with some close friends decided to celebrate our country's independence by exercising our First Amendment and Second Amendment Rights; the right to peaceably assemble (backyard party) and the right to bear arms (fireworks) in that order.

We were so busy this weekend and I am so very tired (the combination of fireworks and cough medicine kill me ever time) that I am offering you only the Cliff's Notes version of our fast and furious Fourth of July Spectacular Featuring The Second Annual Sidewalk of Fire.

Our Friday, Fourth of July can be broken down like this:

Morning to Early Afternoon: Insta-care, hand-cart enthusiast doctor, Amoxicillian, Penicillin, lazy pharmacist, Home Depot, Roman shades, Roman candles, swimming, lounging, frolicking, chip-dippin', hip-slippin', more swimming, thinking about it, nap taking, Walmart crowd fighting, swinging, house cleaning.

To see the entire collection of Reese's first swimming day click here.

Mid to Late Afternoon: Barbecuing mounds of meat, barbecuing mounds of faux meat, Freedom hot dogs, Henry's love interest, cuddling, swooning, tag playing, freedom tag playing, four wheeling in the backyard, bird watching, bug catching.

Early Evening: Ice cream refreshment, ice cream resentment, hot dog dropping (twice), sorbet eating, flirting, more ice cream refreshment, big hat wearing.

Still Early Evening: Reflecting on feelings of freedom,reflecting on feelings of fatigue, stern father figure, smoke bombs in the backyard, snaps spit-wadding (invention of a weapon, folks!), injuries, feats of strength.

Late Evening or as we like to call it The Sidewalk of Fire (second annual): Sparklers, Zombies on fire, Paul almost on fire, Golden Showers (the firework), more smoke bombs, prairie dog impersonations, sneaking up on Henry, startling Henry, camera frustration, camera elation, PSP playing, late-night Maverick Icee runs, midnight tag playing, cuddling, rave gear, buckets of bombs.


To see the rest of our fun on the 4th click here to be linked to our flickr page.

The Lazy Hiker

Jeremy decided that for Father's Day he would like to venture up to Cache Valley, hit up his favorite greasy spoon for breakfast and then go for a short day hike up Logan River Parkway. The kids and I were all for it. We really didn't have a choice though, it was Jeremy's day.

By the time we rolled into Logan, it was the peak of breakfast time, 9:30 am. Jeremy and I had been discussing what we would be ordering once we hit Angie's Restaurant. Jeremy was jonesing for their big breakfast. I was going to have an egg white omelett. Yum.

But when we pulled up to Angie's, we saw a line out the door and even more people stuffed in the waiting area. It didn't look good and Henry was starting to ask all sorts of questions about when his breakfast would get here. Instead of braving the 40 minute line, we did what any respectable family would do, we went to McDonald's.

See how the Father figure in our family is actually okay with his sausage, egg and cheese biscuit meal.



Henry insisted on chicken for breakfast. Luckily, Mickey-D's now has chicken on their breakfast menu. Henry dug in.


Then he spit it out.

Reesie thought Henry's troubles were amusing.

As I gazed at our beautiful girl, I became fixated on her cute little piggy toes.


So cute.

While I was hypnotized by Reesie's feet, Henners swiped my breakfast sandwitch.

Too bad. So sad. The man child taunts me.

After the breakfast and the taunting was over, we packed up and drove up the majestic looking Logan Canyon. Here's 3/4 of our family before embarking on our scenic hike.

Reese, are you ready?

Are you really ready?

She seems a little unsure now doesn't she. No worries. She loved the hike.

The men started out strong. They were on a brisk pace from the start.

Reese and I were a bit more leasurely. We stopped to take in the beauty all around us.

And beneath us. Look at my piggy toes. Why deprive nature of seeing these freshly manicured suckers?


We caught up with the boys around the next bend. By that time, Henners had wrangled his way on top of Jeremy. Apparently the concept of hiking was lost on the Manster.

More beauty.

More Manster.


Henry and Jeremy did a bit of climbing....


....on this mossy rock.


I watched and cheered them on. I was not about to ruin my pedicure.


Then we stopped to throw rocks into the river.


It was a perfect time to feed Reesie.

During her bottle time, I noticed she had a curious look about her. She was troubled by something down by the river.


Ahh. Brother becoming one with nature.


While all the peeing in the river was taking place, Reesie tried her best to steal my ring. Future suitors of Reesie be on notice: This girl likes her some bling bling.


Besides working me over for my jewelry, Reesie's been working on something else lately. A new tooth. I encouraged her to open up and smile for me.


Umm...that's cute and all, but let me see your tooth.

Still no tooth. Give me a bigger smile, girl.


That's adorable, but not quite. I decided to demonstrate for the wee one.


Much better. There they are! Do you see them?


After all the smiling, Reese decided she needed to be incognito with my oversized shades.


We then decided to head back to the car. Henry was off and running.

But he quickly grew tired. What's with the short stamina? He begged us to let him ride in the jog stroller on the way back. Reesie wasn't too happy.


Not happy at all. See her dirty look? She's totally getting better at them.


Henry cruised in comfort on the way down the trail.


But so did Reesie.


Thanks, Jeremy for being a father. You're a great one. All my love, always!