July 4th Celebrations

Utah has new fireworks laws, which allow for "aerial" fireworks.  Jared couldn't wait to buy some.  We threw together a last minute fireworks show.  Todd had some, Zane had some, so we ended up gathering in our front yard when it got dark.  It was a lot of fun!  We were all sitting pretty close to Smart Lane, and when Todd lit off the first aerial firework we all jumped up and ran back, it surprised (or scared!) us all.  

Mallory, Libbie and one of the "Twinees" (as we like to call them). 

Getting all the fuses ready & waiting for it to get darker....

For the 4th of July we went to Sandy City's show like we always do.  Tyler, Sara & Fred, Kadee & Zane, and our friends Jay & Ramiro came too. With all our blankets we had a pretty big area.  It's always fun, with booths to shop at, food to eat, live music, and bounce houses & slides for the kids.

Sophie was content to put her baby in and out of the cup holder all night.

Conner and Kobe - Jay & Ramiro's oldest boy.  

The salon I took Kels to for her bday had a booth, so Emma got a feather too.

Kadee & Zane just got a puppy, the kids (and complete strangers) loved playing with her.

The stage was a lot closer than it looks here.  A vocal ensemble from BYU performed, they were great!

Kelsey is THIRTEEN!

  On Friday, June 24th Kelsey turned 13! When I asked her what she wanted she said, "Make up and clothes."  She ended up with some different gifts, some large - some small.  A couple days before her birthday she said she didn't care if she got anything - she just "really, really" wanted to go get her hair done.  Cut, color and feathers.  Yes, feathers.  So when she got up that morning we had a small gift for her to open - a new cellphone. Then she got to go to lunch with Grandma Denise & Papa Brent - just the three of them (I should have had someone take a picture!).  Then she and I went off to her hair appointment.  For dinner, we went with Whetman's & Bergman's to La Costa.  

This is another birthday gift - while she was gone to Oakcrest we surprised her with a new mattress and new bedding.

Dinner at La Costa!  See the new do? She has 3 feathers, but Jared's camera phone isn't great....

Happy Birthday to you....

That next Monday Kelsey was off to Oakcrest Girls Camp.  Monday - Friday.  That's the longest she's ever been away from us!  It was a very, very long week.  You'd think with 5 other kids to keep busy it would fly by, but it took FOREVER.  But I was so excited for her & the experiences she would get to have.  As they lined up to get on the bus, we said goodbye one last time and I walked back to my car.  And I teared up, a little.  She's so grown up!  I stayed and watched the buses pull away.  We missed her so, so much.

My baby is on that bus!  I was feeling so excited and nervous for her at the same time!

The buses were supposed to be back Friday at 12:30, so we all loaded up in the car & were pulling into the church parking lot at 12:10 - I didn't want to get there late.  But as we came around the back of the church it was quickly obvious that the buses had already dropped off their passengers.  There were girls everywhere, but not very many parents!  Jared spotted her right away, "There she is!"  She had seen us & was walking over.  I parked the car in the closest spot & Jared and I got out.  Kels was crying & she hugged me so tight - I loved it (the hugging part)!  I was worried maybe she's crying because she was so miserable, but she said she just missed us so much.  Then she talked & talked, and told us all sorts of stories.  She had a blast.

Kels is a great girl.  She cares about other people, she's great with her  younger cousins and siblings, she's an excellent babysitter, she cares about always doing her best.  We sure love watching her grow up into such a fantastic young woman.