4th of July

Our 4th of July celebration started way before July this year. My friend, Catherine, organized a 4th of July craft swap where we got paired up with another person and then exchanged homemade crafts. I was really excited when my package arrived. It was complete with a table runner, star garland, vinyl lettering, a headband and lots of other fun goodies.

I didn't take a picture of all of the things that I sent to her, but this is the quilt that I made. It was my first time sewing a quilt and thanks to all of my mom's instructions I think I did a pretty good job! I want a sewing machine now!

The real celebration started the day before the 4th when we went to our ward's annual pancake breakfast and bike parade. Nathan and Max had fun decorating their scooters and getting ready for the parade. Jake didn't get into the decorating part, but he loved riding around while everyone cheered for him!

After the ward party we came home and the boys all helped Jon wash the car.

Then they helped me make cookies!

Max wasn't quite as helpful!

On the actual 4th we went to church wearing our coordinating red, white and blue. (Max's tie really is red, it's just wet from his drool so you can't tell!)

After church we came home and got everything ready to host the 4th of July BBQ. We barbecued tri-tip, chicken, shrimp and hot dogs and made corn and then everyone helped bring the salad, bread, baked beans, and fruit. I made the desserts (since this is my favorite part of hosting a party) and the menu was complete with star shaped sugar cookies, strawberry flag cake and double chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

This is the table runner I got from the craft exchange. You can't tell but the cupcake liners and toppers actually match the table runner!

The party guests...

Bethany's family was in town so they joined the party as well. The more the merrier!

After dinner we headed over to the lake to watch fireworks. We sat there and waited for what seemed like a long time and then the show finally started. I think they were having some technical difficulties because a group of fireworks would go off, then there would be a long pause, then they would continue for a little bit, long pause, etc. Finally they announced that it was over so we all started getting up and the fireworks started going off again. So we sat back down and for like the next hour we kept thinking it was over and then they would go off again. We were all laughing pretty hard!

This was the first year that Jake didn't freak out when the fireworks started. He hid under this blanket and tried to sleep while I covered his ears for most of it. But when it just kept going he eventually woke up and sat and watched the rest. I was so proud of him! This was the first time we have ever been able to sit and watch together as a family. Too bad it was such a weird show!

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. I'm so proud to be an American and so grateful to all of those who have fought for our freedom!

Camping With the Drapers!

Right after school got out we drove to Southern Utah to go camping with Jon's family. We camped in Cedar Canyon and let me just say that the Drapers are gourmet campers! Every morning we had a hot breakfast which consisted of pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs and hot chocolate. For dinner we roasted hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls one night and then had delicious tin foil dinners the next night. Jon topped it all off with his dutch oven peach cobbler complete with ice cream and whipped cream. The best part of it all is that everything was served on real plates and cups and utensils! Pretty fancy!

The boys loved exploring the campground. They found this little stream that they threw rocks in and tried to jump over.

Jon and his dad looking at the maps and making plans for the day. Jon takes it very seriously!

Poor Heidi seemed to always get stuck with dish duty. She actually is so nice that she just volunteered, but I'm sure that I could have jumped in at any time and she wouldn't have minded. Sorry, Heidi!

After breakfast we drove over to Bryce Canyon National Park. We had a picnic lunch and then hiked around looking at how beautiful it was up there.

Wait, is everyone looking and almost smiling??? It's a small miracle! Too bad I had pink eye while we were there and had to wear my glasses the whole time.

This was Max's preferred method of getting down the trail!

The whole gang, minus myself.

The whole gang including myself. From left to right: Heidi, Max, Grandma Lorelei, Kathryn, Nathan, Sarah, Annie, Jon, Jake and Grandpa Ron. We missed the Gammons, Marc and Genevieve who weren't able to make it.

We took a little hike down the hoodoos, but quickly realized that it was going to be too much for the kids so Jon's parents and Kathryn took the boys back up to the car and watched them while Annie, Heidi, Jon and I hiked all the way down the canyon and around the whole loop. It was such a cool hike!

We saw these mini man-made hoodoos along the trail and had to take a picture- pretty impressive!

Jon was excited when he saw this branch in the shape of a Y... for BYU of course!

The hike took about and hour and a half and by the end Jon's hands were pretty swollen...

and my feet were pretty dirty. Tennis shoes may have been the better option!

But we all made it and it was well worth it!

Back at the campsite the kids played lots of games.

Jake woke up the last morning and we realized that his tooth had fallen out sometime during the night! We never found it, but luckily the tooth fairy still came. You can't see the missing tooth in this picture, but Jake was pretty excited about it!

The kids were on a roll with the family pictures this trip. I think they're all looking again! We need Jon's sisters to help them smile everytime! This tent was awesome. It had 3 separate rooms and plenty of space for all of our bags and air mattresses.

Max decided to help clean up by brushing the dirt! Very helpful.

Nathan was having way too much fun connecting all of these glow sticks and attaching them to people when they weren't looking!

Here he's attached it to both mine and Jon's belt loops and then to his hat. Funny kid!

Once we got everything packed up we said bye to Jon's family and then drove down to Zion's National Park. We rode a shuttle through the park which the boys were really excited about.

Except for Max who got sunscreen in his eye and couldn't get over it the whole time we were there. It was kind of sad, but it was baby sunscreen that really shouldn't hurt your eyes!

We stopped and hiked up this little trail to look at these mountains. The one on the right was called Jacob's Peak which Jake was really excited about. The rest of the time wherever we were he would point up to his mountain and tell us that it was Jacob's Peak! It was really cute.

It was really hot there so we stopped and got ice cream and sat and ate it while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

We then made our way back to our car and made the long drive back to California. We had such a fun time, but really enjoyed showering and getting clean once we got home!