I love Utah holidays!

One of my favorite times of the year is the end of July. We always get to see the Cedar Hills parade, do fireworks and hang out as a family. I love pioneer day, and this year we had a whole week of fun stuff. First we had a birthday party (I am trying to load the video of all the adorable photos). His name is Tyler, and he is our friend's Amy and Brad's son. We met them when I was Amy's visiting teacher in our old ward. We became fast friends, and she always had advice on questions about kids, or consoling words when I would complain about having to work and have a kid and have a husband in school, because she was doing the same thing a few years ago. We had a lot of fun play dates at McDonalds and Tyler and Braelyn get along really well. It was wonderful for me to have someone who understood and was always willing to listen. She used to teach kindergarten so she always has fun things planned for the kids, and they had a blast playing in the pool at the party. The last picture shows Brae and Tyler at the end of the party, when they layed their towels out next to each other and just layed there laughing. The next night we went back to their house for dinner and fireworks, and they put on a great show, but the best part was seeing the kids light up while they watched them.

That Saturday was the Cedar Hills celebration, and Kevin had to work that morning, and my family was at the cabin, so I loaded up the girls and headed down myself. We found a great spot on a grassy divide in the middle of the road, and even had some shade to start. Kevin made it just as the parade started, and Braelyn had so much fun grabbing candy and waving to everyone. When the Flash dancers came by she ran out next to them and did a twirl and shake, and cracked everybody up. It was touching to see the missionaries and she grabbed their hand, and I of course thought about Greg, and how much we miss him. The fireworks got canceled because of rain, but we saw them on Monday and it was a great show.

That afternoon it really started raining so Braelyn made Munga go out and play with her. While they were on the sidewalk, we heard a huge crack and flash of lightning and thunder. It turns out that the bolt actually struck our neighbor's house just down the street. But Mom scooped Brae up and ran faster than I had ever seen her move to the porch. In the picture you can see her scared look, but it is funny because Brae thought the whole thing was so much fun, and she just shows exuberant joy and they are running for their lives towards the house! What a difference perspective makes.