Independence Day!

We had a very busy Independence Day this year.  Our house is very close to the Rio Tinto Soccer stadium.  REAL had a game on the evening of the 3rd with fireworks afterward so we stayed up (bathed the boys and let them play outside in their jammies) and watched the fireworks from the our backyard.  The boys LOVED them.  They weren't afraid of the loud sound or anything.  Nolan kept asking for more and saying "wo-wowk" and Mackay was just mesmerized.  It was definitely a fun time, but we went to bed very very lalte.

The next morning was the 4th and we woke up early (mama and daddy did) and got the boys dressed as soon as they woke up and headed up toward Grandma Julie's house to watch her neighborhood parade and meet up with Grandma, Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Eric, cousins Abby, Sarah, and Eliza, Uncle Ben, Aunt Carrie, and Uncle Nate.  It's mostly families from the East Milcreek area, some make small floats, some just get all dressed up and walk, some ride bikes, etc.  They loved the first part of the parade, with the motorcycle police and the firetrucks and stuff but got over it pretty quick and just wanted to walk around.  There was a small creek right behind us (it was gated, but the boys could definitely fit through the gate if they wanted to) so we were chasing them everywhere.  When the parade ended we went back to grandma's house to play in the water, kiddie pools and slip 'n slide, in the backyard.  all of the grown ups got in a water fight (excluding mama and grandma) and the kids didn't have such a fun time.  We went in and had sandwiches for lunch and the kids played in the water for an hour and then we went inside where the boys could keep playing with their cousins in the air conditioned house.  Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Eric, and the cousins have been living in Portland for the past five years and came to Utah while moving to Denver, so we don't see them very often, so we stayed a little past naptime so the boys could enjoy their cousins.

We came home and put them boys down for a nap and then headed down to the Sandy parade.  Of course the boys took a little extra nap and because we got them down so late we didn't get to the parade in time to find a great place to watch.  After such a long day, and a late night, the boys got bored pretty quick.  The enjoyed the motorcycle police again, and the fire truck again, and the Chic-fil-a cow, and the first marching band or two, but they were tired so we left. We came home and played in the water in the front yard, took a bath, and then headed over to see the Sandy City fireworks.  These were further away and the boys were pretty tired so we only got about half way through and again, had to leave.  But they were fun, none the less... and we missed all the traffic!

It was definitely a fun day, but definitely very tiring.  Mackay is not a fan of fireworks when he is trying to go to bed, so that made for a few long nights as well, but... all is well again.  The fireworks in the neighborhood have died down and we have had a few relaxing days at home now.  We'll see what Pioneer Day brings...