Let Freedom Ring

July is a busy and exciting month! We have been running around crazy all month long. The 4th of July is one of our favorite holidays. Not only for the fireworks, but for the nature of the celebration. Adam and I often will contemplate the importance of that day in 1776 when we became a free nation. FREE. Free to choose who we will be and where we will go. How we want to raise our family, what religion we will follow, or if we want to follow one at all. Being able to vote for a President and other leaders. Choosing where we will live, what job we want ect. The list goes on and on you all know. I just love it. And I love our flag, it is so beautiful. And our anthem... so many great things we have.
And who doesn't love the celebrating. BBQ's, parades, carnivals, fireworks, picnics, and baseball games, swimming. We've been lucky to have done them all this year. It's been so fun. On the 4th Adam and I took the kids to the West Jordan parade and carnival. They had a great time gathering taffy thrown to them, watching the horses and other performers. The motorcycle brigade was a huge hit. That night Adam worked the Sugar House event and the kids and I went to my parents to celebrate my sister Kiersti's birthday.
Yes, my brother is always that goofy! There we are all together. Me, Tyler, Brynn and Kiersti. (In order even!) :)

Kaleb and I chilled in the back of the truck, while Grace preferred sitting on Papa's lap during fireworks. I couldn't tell if Kaleb was more concerned or intrigued by them. He was pretty tired too, just nestled right into me for most of the show.
The next night, July 5th, we had our friends Emily and Rob Palmer over for more fireworks. (They invited us to play in golf tournament with them and Adam won closest to the pin. The prize was a huge box of fireworks.) It was a lot of fun watching the kids play with their little friends. Some of our other neighbors (the Wooton's) came by as well. Of course the teenage boys were being naughty with some bottle rockets they came across.... But it was a fun night.

Grace was really getting into the role of dancing in the strobe lights. I love that we are surrounded in a cloud of smoke in the other picture. (Me, the kids, with Emily, Halle and Chloe)

Hey, another picture of the two of us together... we're getting better at that. :)

So there many other things that happened between then and the 24th of July (some I've posted) but I am going to skip ahead...

Of course this celebration is for the Pioneers who came across the country and settled Salt Lake City in 1847. To whom I totally give huge props!! I've been on a couple of the Pioneer Treks that they simulate, once as a Ma and Pa. Not easy in the least bit. And it's nothing like the real thing. I don't think I would have been strong enough. I really love this day. Remembering all the strength and courage those people had. And it is fun to watch the parade in the morning and see some of the modern pioneer acts that they portray on the floats.

Well after watching the parade, Adam and I took the kids to the Olympic Oval swimming pool in Kearns. It was fantastic. They have the best kids area there! Slides, water guns, ropes, fountains to dance in, and a GIANT bucket that fills up and dumps on a huge crowd at the bottom. I was too chicken to get under it, I think I would have gotten knocked on my butt. Grace did it with Adam though. I wish I had brought my camera, very cool place. That night we joined Adam's family at the Bee's game. It has become a tradition now that we all go to the game together on this day. It is so fun. The ball game, cotton candy, snowies, popcorn (sugar, sugar, SUGAR). We had great seats, just to the side of first base. Once the kids were all sugared up (big thanks to Meme and Papa J for supplying some of that!) we took them over to a huge hill where they ran around with other kids and rolled down the hill 'til they were dizzy. It was such a good night. The firework show was awesome. Kaleb nestled into me again, but wouldn't take his eyes off the action.

GO BEES!!
Grace was SURE she was going to catch a ball!
See, I told you we were getting better at this...
Adam's little (ha ha) brothers and significant others: Jonathan and Carissa, Ethan and Kyler

I love how the mountains provide a perfect backdrop to the flag.

So that is a bit of what we've enjoyed this month, it's a lot for you all to read, but I hope you enjoyed the pictures!