The 4th of July

All while growing up, I lived for the 4th of July. It was easily one of my favorite holidays! It's was a whole days worth of events, starting at 0700 with breakfast at evergreen park, then after that we would make our way up to my grandma's to watch the evergreen parade! Most years we would watch the parade and hop on at the end and throw candy, usually salt water taffy provided by Mark Lambert. Then we were off to the Country Club swimming pool, where they put on many activities such as; coin toss, gold fish in the pool, water melon catch...Then we would shower and put our Old Navy 4th of July tees back on and head out to watch fire works, we went to various places for fire works, on our way there we picked up our bucket of KFC and waited what seemed like an eternity for that first firework that would start the magical show!

I miss that exhausted feeling at the end of the fireworks when you can barley make it to the car and then falling to sleep on the car ride home, with my glowing necklace around my neck. Then pulling into the driveway thinking "there is no way we can be home already", (even though we sat in traffic for 45 mins, while everyone was leaving at once). Then falling to sleep before my head hit the pillow!

Those truly are some of my greatest memories of my childhood! Since we've grown a little, one big change is, no more Country Club since my grandma sold her membership. I told Tory that he has a few years til Gordon is old enough to remember his 4th of July's, to make enough money to get a membership! I don't foresee that ever happening, but I do hope that I can make my kids 4th as memorable as mine were to me!

This year no one was going to the breakfast, but I decided I didn't want to let that tradition die, so Tory, Gordon and I went! Then Tory Had to go to work, since this is usually a busy day at the Park. Gordon and I walked up to my grandma and grandpa's house and watched the parade. Then we went up to visit Tory at work, then went to a BBQ at my parents house and did the little fire works there. We went and picked up Isabelle because Trygg and Emmy were in no shape to take her to fireworks, Emmy recovering from a baby and Trygg recovering from knee surgery! Over all it was a fun day! We did catch some real fireworks on our way home and pulled over rolled down the windows and watched them! Watching them took me back to my childhood for just a moment. I love fire works, and I love the 4th of July! I am so thankful for this great country we live in and so very thankful for the men and women who fight for us to keep all of our freedoms and liberties! I hope we can all have them in our thoughts and prayers! Gordon and Tory at the evergreen park for breakfast
Gordon with great grandma Annie watching the parade
Us with Cacia and her cute new baby Adel about 2 months old. Cacia and her family grew up with us and our 4th of July traditions! Now we will start the next generation

Gord playing with a stick while waiting for dad to get finished with work

Gordon with uncle Carl at the cafe. Carl just got his mission call to Columbus, Ohio!
waiting for the firworks outside my moms house

My poor dad hurt his back. He spent the week flat on his back. Maggie is keeping him company while he eats!
Charly and Maggie
Tory showing Isabelle how to make the perfect smore
Gordons first sparkler! What a fun day!