Independence Day

The last few years, I have come to realize that Independence Day is probably the  most exhausting of all the holidays; especially with young kids. This year, we had a full weekend of late nights, sun and water and fireworks. Eh, a little less sleep never hurt anybody, right?

 

First we went to the fireworks at USU with most of my family. We ate dinner at a park, and then treats and glow sticks kept all the kids entertained for a few hours while we waited for the fireworks.

 My kids: always so photogenic, right?

 

 Oh! These cousin moments melt my heart!

 

Then on Saturday, we went boating with Teep at Willard Bay. We've gone a couple times this year, and both times I was really excited... until I realized that I'm uber pregnant and wouldn't really be able to DO much on the boat. But we had fun nonetheless.

 I told Josh to get a picture of me in that hat, because it wasn't going to happen again.

 The first time Meili went on the tube this year, she went with me and she was such a wimp that she just ducked her whole body down inside the tube so no one could see her, and she just kept telling me to tell Teep to go slower. After getting used to it a couple times, she became quite the little daredevil!

 On Sunday, we stayed the night at Josh's parents' house. Originally we were just going to sleep in the backyard in a tent, but Jake and Kami offered us their trailer instead, which was awesome. And the kids basically thought it was the coolest thing ever. (Meili claimed it as her own personal clubhouse, and kept trying to run off to show her cousins her new crib.)

 We did a few fireworks...

 ...And played on the four-wheeler

 ...And played a little round of baseball. With tennis rackets.

This may be a new tradition. I think it was definitely a highlight for Josh.

 Then, on Monday, there was all the usual Honeyville festivities.

 The parade.

Meili is the one lounging in the giant red hat.

I was told by those on the float that Grant really didn't want to share his candy by throwing it. No surprise there.

 Then the carnival at the park

 My children caught several fish is the live fish pond. We won't talk about how "mostly dead" they already were.

 A popsicle is only truly enjoyed if half of it ends up on your face and shirt.

 Then we finished it all off with a water party at Papa Anderson's.

But of course that just couldn't be the end. That night, we went to a party at our neighbors' house, and then the fireworks in Hyrum because Josh had to be the "DJ" for work.