Independence Day Weekend

With the 4th of July landing on a Sunday this year, we got to spread out the festivities Saturday through Monday. We started the fun at my parent's house on Saturday. Ben and Angie played in the the wading pool with the boys.

We brought down our cool sprinkler too!Jason had a lot of fun carrying around the little toy boats, but didn't want to get in the water much.Brad played soccer and "chase the football" with Parker and Jason. They loved it!We had a delicious picnic and then the boys helped Grandpa make homeade strawberry ice cream. Yum!Putting ice in the machine was their favorite!Afterwards we headed up to GG's for swimming. Parker is now tall and confident enough to jump into the shallow end without anyone catching him. We still make sure to watch him though. Brad is a very good swimmer. He used to do competitive swimming as a child and was doing all kinds of cool jumps and dives in the pool, but of course I didn't get any good pictures. Jackie and Isaac lounging by the pool.I think that's Brad splashing Isabelle and Adam.We picked up these great Coastguard certified water wings at Wal-mart called a "Puddle Jumper Life Vest". We love them! Belle and Isaac taking a break.Adam, Isaac, Isabelle and Jason on the slide. Jason LOVES babies! Here he is kissing "Baby" Kade.Isabelle and Jada playing in the shade. Grandpa Carlson is awesome at the barbeque!Here are some of the kids enjoying their meal. That night we went to the North Ogden Cherry Days fireworks. Rather than go to the stadium, we left about ten minutes before they started, parked a couple blocks away and set up our lawn chairs to watch. We had a perfect view and were home seven minutes after it ended. Perfect! The kids absolutely loved them! Parker kept saying, "Wow!" after each one and Jason watched mesmerized. I forgot my camera in the car and was too lazy to get it, so this online photo of the event will have to suffice. Sunday we went to church and just enjoyed the day together at home (after Brad got home from all his meetings, of course).

Monday Brad had the day off so we decided to head back down to Salt Lake. We went to the new Twilight movie with my mom and sister, but were rather unimpressed. Is Edward the only one that still values virtue? Come on. Anyway, the boys had fun playing in the yard. In the afternoon we headed back up to GGs for another swim. Jason liked playing in the water and loved the little water toys. While we were there Brad's mom gave Parker a swim lesson. He learned so much from his lessons at the swim park near our house, but still needs practice gliding and swimming on his own.It was dinner time when we left and were too hungry to wait until we got home, so we picked up Wendy's. The boys loved the little echo microphone they got. Sharing is still a challenge sometimes. I am so grateful to live in a country that values freedom. I know that God inspired our forefathers to write a constitution to protect our freedoms. I am also so very thankful to all of the men and women who have served our country in the military. I really appreciate the sacrifice they and their families make to keep us free!