Happy 4th Of July 2009

We got up early this morning to head over to Mom & Dad’s.  I noticed this plant in one of the neighbor’s yards.  It’s like the flower that I saw at Sonic the other day.  They are so huge and so pretty.

  Anyways, we got to Mom & Dad’s and loaded up in the Durango and headed over to the Hyde’s house at 8:30 for a 4th of July party.  They wanted to have it early before it got too hot.  They had huge pancakes that filled up a whole paper plate, eggs, sausage, fruit salad, yogurt, and granola.  It was super tasty.  It was so hot sitting in the sun that we moved our table over to the shade.  They had the backyard and all of the tables decorated so festively.

After everyone had eaten, they had a little parade for the kids.  They had flags for them to wave, hats, and sunglasses.  Autumn was looking stylin’ in her 4th of July gear.

Everyone went around to the front of the house for a flag ceremony.  2 of the men in the ward were wearing their military gear.  I always get emotional when I see the flag being raised and hear the national anthem.  It was a very touching moment.  After they raised the flag there was a reverent quiet and then all of a sudden Andrew yelled out, “YEAH!”  It was SO FUNNY and he was just expressing what all of us were thinking.  I can’t even begin to express my gratitude for the men and women in the military that offer so much for us and our country and our freedoms.

I thought this was the cutest patriotic picture today.

Freedom is NOT free.

Home of the free BECAUSE of the brave.

   After the party, we came home and relaxed for a while.  We played some card games and just had fun spending time together.  In the afternoon Dad was able to come home (he was back up at the clinics).  Maggie made the most out of this world ribs.  They were literally falling apart b/c they were so tender.  We also had pasta salad, broccoli salad, cucumbers, corn on the cob, and watermelon.

After we ate, we spent about five hours swimming and having fun.  We had this boogie board that we tried surfing on.  As you can tell in the pictures above, I didn’t do too well.  As soon as I stepped on it, it sunk and I went flying.  But it was so much fun.

Seth is about the only one that was able to stay on it for more than two seconds.  We also had fun trying to stay on the big black barrel.  Liberty even tried walking on it, but that didn’t work.  We were all laughing so hard, though.

Liz made this beautiful 4th of July flag cake, and it was so tasty.  Maggie also brought two creamy pies that just hit the spot.

I think I might have a future Tiger Woods on my hands.  We found this little golf game and Autumn & Andrew had a good time playing it.

They also had fun playing foosball.  But as you can see, they both have to stand on chairs.  It’s funny that he’s so light and she’s so dark.  You would never guess they are cousins.

Everyone got cleaned up, and Autumn went in to the bathroom while Lexie was fixing her hair and putting on make up.  She wanted some too, so Lexie put some lip gloss on her, and Autumn thought she had died and gone to heaven.

We had to get a picture of all of us gorgeous ladies w/ our lip gloss on.  Don’t you think we look beautimus?  LOL!

We decided to watch Wall-E, so I sat down on the love seat.  Next thing I know, Lexie is sitting w/me.  And then Autumn and Andrew came to join us and Nick felt left out, so he came over too.  How many people can you fit on one love seat?  All we were missing was Nate.

Once it started getting dark, we packed up the truck and Durango and headed over to a field to watch the fireworks.  Nick & Seth had the right idea to prop up their feet.  I got about 10 chigger bites…ouch!

Autumn & Andrew sat in the back of the truck w/ Papa.

Liz & Liberty came and met us over there to watch the fireworks w/ us, too.

Autumn & I

The fireworks were nice and after they were over we went back to our house to light some sparklers that Liz & Liberty had brought over.

We let Autumn & Andrew try one, but a little piece of one fell off and landed on Autumn’s foot and burned her a little bit and that scared her, so Autumn & Andrew just sat w/ Dad and watched while the “big kids” did the sparklers.

It was a  wonderful 4th of July and I truly appreciate all of the freedoms and liberties I am blessed w/ by being able to live in this great country.  I am so glad that Dad was able to serve in the Army so I could learn what it was like to live on a military base and to be around other soldiers and their families.  I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July and remembered how blessed we are to live in America.