Happy Independence Day!!

 Ben's Independence Day started out a little rocky and 'less independent' that he might have hoped.  After getting up at 5:30 with a little girl and getting a ton of stuff done around the house Ben decided to mow the lawn and get some more stuff done before it got too hot outside.  As he was mowing the lawn one of our neighbors came outside and yelled at him for mowing too early. She said he had woken them up and that he shouldn't mow until after 9.  He asked what time it was and she said 9:15- hum? He was not too bugged but he now jokes about doing things too early to wake the neighbors- eating, flushing the toilet, weeding, watering, ect.

Our ward always does an Independence Day Potluck Lunch.  Ben had to go help set everything up so Elizabeth and I went up later.   Michael and Taylor were in town for the 4th of July and we dragged them along with us.  Elizabeth LOVES Michael David (partly because he is a human jungle gym) and she played so well with Page.  It was so fun having them there and showing them off to all my friends!

 

 

 

 

That afternoon/evening we all went to Mom and Dad's house to relax, have a BBQ and watch fireworks.  Growing up we never had personal fireworks, just the big city show, and so the idea of going all out on sparklers, poppers and fountains confounds me. However as I watched Ben, Michael and Dad I realized that one of the main reasons for these personal fireworks is so that the men-folk can watch things catch on fire.

 

 

 

 

 

While the planning and fire starting was happening, Page and Elizabeth played with poppers and they loved them; who knew throwing stuff at the ground could be so entertaining. The sparklers that they bought were a little wild and caused a lot of stress from the responsible women onlookers but the girls thought they were cool.  The first big fountain that they set off was a 'screamer' and it scared Elizabeth a little bit; she watched in shock as it went off and then was content to just sit and snuggle with Nana through the rest.

 

 

 

We had a great fireworks show that was set to music (we were lucky that the people next to us had a loud sound system because ours weren't working too well) and so there was some dancing, singing along and silliness.  It is always so awe inspiring to watch fireworks and I always, at least once, get choked up at the sight. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am grateful for our independence and for the amazing country in which we live.  I often complain about the simple things in life; no air conditioning, gas prices, Ben's workload or food prices. Then I stop and think that I am so lucky to have those problems in my life because it means that we have a house, car, work and food. I am grateful for my freedoms, especially my freedom of religion and the wonderful opportunities that I have to not only practice but to share and proclaim my beliefs.  I know that there are problems in this country, like in all, but I am grateful that we have a strong foundation of independence and freedom to work from.  I am proud to be an American!!