You're a Grand ole Flag!!

I think the 4th of July is becoming one of my favorite holidays. Since we've been married, every year we have done something different for the 4th of July.

Year #1--- Our first year of marriage, I honestly cant' remember where we were or what we did... We had been married for 2 months, so there's a newlywed brain for ya. Amy, Shera, was I in Provo with you? Or were we in Burley with my inlaws? Someone help me out?... Oh my goodness, I just remembered!! We were on a back east trip with my family. We drove all day in a motor home and pulled in REALLY late at night to Gettysburg hoping to find some huge celebration, fireworks, carnival... there was NOTHING. I'm pretty sure it was all over by the time we got there because I'm sure of all places, I would think Gettysburg would be a huge celebration. Since we couldn't find any BBQ's we stopped at McDonalds for dinner... because after all, what's 4th of July without a hamburger?

Year #2--- The second year we spent the day/weekend in Boston with my sister Jana and her family. Then that night of the 4th we flew back to Washington DC (where we were living for that summer) and watched the fireworks from our airplane as we flew over the Washington Monument, Capitol, and White house... That was pretty amazing. (Plus that's the first time I felt Jack kick inside my tummy).

Year #3--- We were in Provo, Ut. Perhaps one of the best places to be on July 4th. John and I took Jack to the parade down University Ave, ate BBQ dinner at my aunt Joyce's house with lots of cousins and G&G RaY, then drove up to the Y mountain to watch stadium of fire fireworks show with my family and cousins, Brent and Brittany. It was a blast.

Year #4--- We spent at our cabin in Pine, AZ. Lots of childhood memories celebrating the 4th of July up there so it was so fun to go back now with a hubby and kid. We were working in AZ for Lewis and Roca (law firm) and John had to work the day before, so we stayed the night at my parent's house then drove up the next morning. Missed the pancake breakfast, but got there just in time to hit the big party in Payson, AZ with the my brother Dave's family and sister Jana's family. After a few minutes of carnival games and cotton candy a HUGE storm came rolling in and we all got soaking wet. We ate dinner at Wendy's (waited for 45 minutes for our food), dried Jack's clothes using the bathroom's hand dryer, Jana took Jack home to bed (her kids were soaked an freezing and tired), but John and I then headed back to watch fireworks. This was the first time I've even been cold on the 4th of July...

Year #5--- We were here in Orange County, California. My sister Amber and her family came as well as mom, dad, mark, and my brother Jaren (drove down from Provo.) My sister Shera and her family live in Mission Veijo, CA so it was one big party. We went to a parade (perhaps the smallest 4th of july parade I've ever seen... put on by the gated community where we live, Coto de Caza). We got soaking wet, but it was ok because we went home to go swimming and have a BBQ. We ate corn on the cob, fruit pizza, and hamburgers. That night we watched fireworks at Mission Lake. Jack thought they were awesome and Jonah was wide eyed the whole time. We had a such a fun day.

Who knows where we'll be next year?.......... Only time will tell :-)