The 4th of July is my second favorite holiday. Summer doesn’t officially begin for me until the 4th of July. I love everything about it! I love what it stands for, I love parades, I love BBQ’s, I love being outside, I love fireworks, and I love spending time with my family and friends. I love this country and the values that it was created upon. I am so grateful for all of the men and women who have fought to give me what I have today and I am grateful for parents who taught me what it means to be patriotic. I get teary eyed every time I hear or sing the song, “I’m Proud to be an American” because I truly am. God Bless America!!

As a kid we would go to the Provo parade every year and to this day I just LOVE it! This was the first time I had gone in at least 15 years and the first time for Jeffy and the kids. I was so excited I could hardly sleep the night before. Jeffy’s mom was in town so she came with us and Lane and Kelly joined us as well. Lane was so nice to get up at 4:40 to get us a good seat and he sure did! We were right at the end of the parade but right on the street so the kids could see great. Lindsay got to break another board for the karate people and did great. Lindsay loved the horses and big balloon things and Logan loved the firetrucks and cars. We got rained on right before it started and then sweating during the rest of it. Love it!

Near where we were sitting was a park that I took the kids to play while we waited for the parade to start. I was pushing Logan and looked down at the ground and saw these two big beetles fighting each other. I got Logan off the swing and called for Lindsay to come see. Grandma had brought Lindsay a book about bugs and in there we learned about stag beetles and how two boy stag beetles will fight each other to get the girl. So typical. Sure enough that’s what these two beetles were and boy were they fighting! They would be going strong and then just stop and one of them looked like he was going to try to hide in the wood chips but then the other beetle would come up from behind him and pull him out, as if he was saying, “I ain’t done with you!” We watched them for a good 20 minutes. It was so entertaining. We almost forgot about the parade….

After the parade we went home and got ready for the block BBQ Jeffy had planned. Only about 6 families ended up coming but it was perfect. We had a nice time being outside chatting with our neighbors while the kids played and had fun.

Then right after that he packed up the kids again and drove BACK to Provo for the fireworks. This was both of the kids first experience with big fireworks and the loved it! We saved ourselves a spot on the MTC field after the parade so we knew we’d have somewhere to sit. We got there about 2 1/2 hours before the fireworks started and we spent the time just hanging out. We played frisbee, catch, walked up to see the temple, had running races, did cartwheels, and snuggled up together to wait.
The kids doing cartwheels.


There was an ice cream truck there ( SO SMART!) and this is Logan with his blue mouth that would not come off. He’s so patriotic.

A happy Lindsay girl.

The kids playing.



All of us snuggling and waiting (silly Jeffy…)

We could see a storm way off in the distance with HUGE lightning bolts and everything and we were getting nervous that we would have to leave. But luckily it broke up by the time it got to Provo and we were able to watch the fireworks. The kids LOVED them and Lindsay has been asking for two days now if we can go watch them again. I wish we could! It was truly the best day and I had so much fun.