Happy Birthday America!

The kids participated in our annual 4th of July neighborhood parade again this year followed by a pancake breakfast in the church parking lot. This was one of the coolest days we've had for the parade because it was overcast all morning - it's amazing how big of a temperature difference that can make here in Utah. Afterwards I set up our pool in the backyard and the kids played in it in the afternoon. My parents came over for a barbecue dinner and my flag cake that I make every year.

This year we tried out the fireworks show at West Jordan's city park. Auntie M & Uncle Rog met us there and brought their wedding pictures that they had just picked up. There was a rodeo going on at a stadium on the park grounds so we were a little unsure where they would shoot the fireworks off from. We started out in one location and then after my husband scouted out the place we moved to a different area. The newspaper had said that the fireworks show would start around 10:20 and we ended up waiting and waiting and waiting. The rodeo didn't end until after 10:30 and we were still waiting for the fireworks show. At one point (before the rodeo ended) they shot off a few fireworks not too far from where we were sitting but then nothing... One funny thing about the Salt Lake Valley is that we could see fireworks shows going off all across the valley - and the one we were at still wasn't starting...

Finally, at about 10 minutes to 11:00 the show started! It was a really good show and the location was great - nice, soft, green grass and it wasn't very crowded - if only it could have started a little earlier. By the time the show started Kitty was asleep and ended up sleeping through most of it. At one point she woke up and watched a few of the fireworks and then she laid back down and went back to sleep. After watching the fireworks for a good portion of the show, Blondie also laid down and fell asleep - she said it was too loud and too bright so I told her that next time we need to bring ear plugs and sunglasses for her. Baby K slept through about half of it and then woke up wanting to eat so I fed her and she went back to sleep - which was nice for me. So, other than the show starting VERY, VERY, VERY LATE, it was great!