4th of July

I was so excited for the Fourth of July this year! I love celebrating the birth of our nation and the freedoms that we as Americans enjoy. Plus, it is one of the few holidays that pretty much everyone can agree about celebrating regardless of political agendas, religion and cultural backgrounds. I love everything about it… the parades, the fireworks, the flag, the troops, the food etc.

I’m loving the holidays now. Interestingly holidays have an extra amount of punch to them now. I just thoroughly enjoy them more now. I know it’s because most holidays involve children in some way and let’s face it, when you are trying to have children holidays are just another occasion to remind you of what you are missing. In fact, I was just thinking the other day about how fast summer has gone and that Halloween will be creeping on us soon. My initial thoughts weren’t very enthusiastic and then it dawned on me that we have Kylie now and how much fun it will be to take her to the ward’s Halloween party this year and to trunk or treat!! It’s really strange that I’m so programmed to feel a certain way around holidays and even though we’ve had her for eight months now my brain still hasn’t adjusted entirely to the reality. What a lucky girl to bring so many smiles and happy memories wherever she goes.

We spent part of the weekend down at Jared’s parents down in Fayette. We went to the Gunnison parade in the morning and made sure to pick up some taco salads for lunch at the town celebration. Kylie was really excited watching the parade and was enthralled with the dancers when they stopped and danced in front of us. I thought she was going to jump out of the stroller she was so excited. Later that afternoon we drove back up to Orem where we met up with Vaylene and Jordan and went to dinner at Kneaders.

Here is the low down of how the Miley Cyrus Concert went. Was I glad I went? Yes. Would I go again to Stadium of Fire? Yes. Would I go again to see Miley Cyrus? No. Stadium of Fire this year was hosted by Glen Beck and Blue Man Group and Miley Cyrus performed. I imagined there being crowds of teenage adolescent girls but while there were some, it wasn’t to the extent I imagined. Blue Man group was fun to watch. But I was kind of bummed because somewhere along the way I’ve watched a TV special of their concerts. So it was cool to see them in person, but it was kind of like watching a concert for the second time. Serves me right I guess.

Somewhere along the line the cue for Miley to enter the stage didn’t happen at all like it was planned I’m sure. Poor Glen Beck was having to stall for almost five minutes, and when they finally announced her she didn’t show up on stage for probably another three or four minutes. So much for a grand entrance. The first half dozen songs she sang were off her new album, so of course nobody knows them very well yet. I wasn’t impressed much either, I doubt her second album will be as successful as her first. The last three songs she sang were really fun (because those were the ones everyone knows) and finally the audience could get into the swing of things.

The fireworks were a.m.a.z.i.n.g though! I would have gone again just for the firework show. They lasted for at least a half hour and were absolutely beautiful. I was a bit apprehensive about how Kylie would handle the fireworks in a stadium and had heard stories from friends whose babies had cried non stop throughout them. Even though she was up waaaaaaaaaaay past her bedtime I think she handled it well. She sat on my lap and watched them for the first ten minutes without much of a peep. I tried to pass her off to Jared or Vaylene for a few minutes and she wouldn’t have any of that. She’s never really been very clingly so I was surprised to see her prefer me to hold her (love it though!) She whimpered a few times during the last half of the fireworks show but she snuggled in my arms to feel safe from all the commotion and did okay.

All in all we had a great weekend and I’m already looking forward to celebrating the 24^th.