Fireworks!

July 4, 2015

We went to watch the fireworks in Sandy again this year. Kitty and MJ both have a hard time with the noise of them..

4th of July Parade

Saturday, July 4, 2015

We went back to our old neighborhood for the annual 4th of July Parade and pancake breakfast. It was fun seeing some of our old friends and neighbors again and visiting with them. Luke was at a parade with his band that morning so he was not with us.

4th of July Fun!

Friday, July 4

After the neighborhood parade the kids played out back in the water and then we went to my parents' house for dinner.  My oldest brother and his family were in town so we had fun visiting with them.  Afterwards we went to watch the Sandy City fireworks show.

Sprinklers

Pool

Sprinklers under the trampoline

Too bad the tree got in the way of this picture!  That is Kay doing some fancy moves!

Otter pops

Layered patriotic drink that I made for the evening's dinner.

Passing the time as we wait for the fireworks show to start.

FIREWORKS!!

4th of July Parade 2014

Friday, July 4, 2014

Our annual neighborhood parade followed by pancake breakfast at the church.  (We may have to go back to our old neighborhood each year so we can still participate and see old friends.)

Flag that Kitty made out of streamers.

Parade flyover

Independence Day 2013

Thursday, July 4

We started out our day with the neighborhood parade again.  This year Luke, Blondie, Kitty and Kay all rode their bikes and M&M pushed MJ in the stroller.  I walked alongside to help Kay out since she still has training wheels.  I was a bit nervous with Kitty riding her bike since she had just learned to ride a two wheeler, but she did just fine.  It turns out that Blondie took a spill and scraped up her knee - which you can see in the picture!

After the parade and pancake breakfast, we came home and filled up the pools for some afternoon water fun. 

After dinner we were debating whether to try and go to a fireworks show or not.  With the way that MJ reacted to our home fireworks, I was not sure if she could handle a professional show.  After some deliberating we decided to try the Sandy City fireworks.  I brought some activities and treats for the kids and some earplugs and some ear protection headphones that DH uses when he does some of the yard work.  I was also prepared to make a quick escape to the car if needed.

After we got to the fireworks location we found a place to sit and the kids were playing some games when all of a sudden we recognized a group of people walking our direction.  It was two families from our ward that we are good friends with.  We ended up moving our blankets closer together to make room for them.  It turned out really nicely because one of the families has two kids that are good friends with M&M and Luke.

Kay posing for the camera with the headphones on.

MJ decked out with her glow sticks and headphones on.  Ready (or not) for the show to begin.

When they turned the lights off to prepare for the show to begin, I grabbed MJ and put her on my lap.  She was not excited at all about the fireworks but with the headphones on and my hands over top of them, I think she was surprised when the first fireworks were shot off and she hardly heard anything!  She sat there calmly on my lap the whole time and about halfway through the show she fell asleep!  Yea!!!

Afterwards it was pretty quick getting out of the parking lot and a short drive home!  Success!!

Cousin fun!

July 2 & 3
My brother from Missouri came with his family to visit for a few days at the beginning of July.  We had some fun with them playing on the slip-n-slide Tuesday afternoon and then on Wednesday we met up at Bridal Veil Falls to have a picnic lunch and play in the water.  DH was also able to meet up with us for the lunch.  That evening we had some dinner at our house followed by a home fireworks show.

 The water was freezing and some of the girls did not like playing in it for very long.

The water at the falls was FREEZING.  I'm not sure how some of the kids kept their feet in for so long.  The younger kids had a blast throwing rocks into the water and making it splash.  A couple of the kids had a little too strong of a throw though and we almost had a couple of hits - there were a lot of people around...

Sparklers!

Fountains!

MJ was absolutely terrified of the fireworks!  Even when sitting with me with my hands over her ears she was completely freaking out so I finally took her inside and let her watch a movie while we were outside.  Kay on the other hand - after the last fireworks were finished (the aerials) she said that she loved it and the last ones were her favorites!

Aerial