4th of July

The Murray Parade is one of my favorite memories as a child.  Combined with my birthday on the 3rd (yay! I'm 26!), my brother's birthday on the 4th, and all the regular festivities, it always makes for a fun couple of days.  We were so glad to be back in Utah for the 4th this year.  I couldn't wait for the kids to see a real parade with real candy instead of little league baseball teams throwing Dubble Bubble.  It did not disappoint.  Traditionally, one of the perks of going with Dad at 6:00 to get a parade spot was getting breakfast at McDonald's.  I don't know why, but that dang Egg McMuffin tastes especially good.

When the kids and I got there at a more reasonable hour, we passed the time until the parade started by waving our flags and throwing snaps.  They thought those were pretty cool.  Aunt Steph was just excited we didn't make her gather candy since she wasn't the youngest parade attendee anymore.  :)

 I can't believe how big this girl is!  She wore this shirt last year as a dress, and her pigtails were mere stubs.

 E's boots were perfect for snaps-stomping.

She throws like a girl.

 Proudly coming back from her candy errand.  She would not release the candy she gathered for anything.  She realized that once it went in the bag, it wouldn't come out.

After the parade, we would've traditionally watched Brad open his presents, but he's on his mission, so that was out.  We just got to think about him and hope he was having a happy birthday.  Instead, we got ready for the BBQ with the extended family and made festive Jell-O from Our Best Bites.  Then the Healys and the Mumfords came over and Ben and I got to do some party-hopping to the Christensen side.

Ben had to work early the next morning, so he opted out of fireworks and drove back to Provo and the kids and I headed back over to Murray to enjoy the awesome firework show.  Our friends the Humpherys just happened to be there from Logan, so it was way fun to see them!  The firework show did not disappoint, and the kids enjoyed being up late...again.  It seems like they've gotten to do that more and more with their dad working so late.

Anyway, our 4th of July was a success.

My favorite picture of the day?  This one:

Grandpa and his taffy-death-gripping girl.  I think he maybe adores her a little bit. :)