Happy 4th!

(That phrase always makes me chuckle... ever since my sister and I went to Minnesota for a stamp convention and we had a card that said "Happy 4th!" We thought we were so cute giving it to our cab driver. He asked us... "Happy 4th what? 4th baby or something?" Well, I was pregnant with my 5th. Anyhoo....)


We had a delightful Independence Day just spending time with family. We went to the traditional picnic and pool party at my Dad's cousin Margene's. It was great fun swimming with all the cousins!

My personal favorite: Scott on the slide and diving board! Hey, don't all 3 year olds just hop into the water like that??

Erika loved the diving board.

Everyone had lots of fun plans for the Fireworks! Uncle Evan & Aunt Naylen took Erika to the Stadium of Fire with their kids. Jada also got to go scream for the Jonas Brothers with her friend's family. Kaila hiked the "Y" with friends, and Sierra spent the evening hanging out with Phillip's family. Uncle Cordell & Aunt Cheryl and their kids got to go to a Bees game. And the REST of us met on the big hill at Rock Canyon park to watch the fireworks go up.

All the kids... big and little.... loved the sparklers!

(Until we got shut down by a bike cop... sorry... didn't know we were illegal!)

Will's Sparkler!

Jaden & Necia get crazy with the sparklers!

So... even if you are from Minnesota... we hope you all had a HAPPY 4th!! :)

She's Legal!

Whew! Sierra FINALLY has her driver's license.

(For REAL cars... not just slick track cars!)

About time too! She's 17 years, 2 months and 4 days old.... yeah... SEVENteen.

A whole slew of events just coincided to keep her from being able to complete all the requirements before now. (Mainly changing schools and being on early morning Drill Team.)

BUT it's finally done. She has that little piece of paper in her wallet, with the real macoy promised to show up in the mail within two weeks.

Now, WHY, you ask, would we be so excited to add another teen-age driver to our insurance?

Just a couple of reasons: she goes to school in the next town over, she has to leave the house at 5:30am for drill practice, (even right now in the summer), AND she has about 20 minutes after drill to get to her swim teacher job back here in town. Mom is just a bit tired of that routine!

But now... she can DRIVE HERSELF!! Whoo-Hoo!

I'm gonna celebrate by SLEEPING IN!

It. Was. AWESOME!

Kaila's graduation ceremony was just plain awesome! SO MUCH FUN! (I know. Weird.) The weather was beautiful. The processional was just incredible to watch... all those kids in their blue gowns with such happy faces.

The flag was brought in by a SKYDIVER. The speakers were short and hilarious - bringing out laughter, a few tears and the great spirit of this class. SHHS - the letters of the school, also stand for their school motto: Spirit - Heart - Honor - Success. They really emphasized how this class epitomizes this motto. Think about it: You take two rival high schools, a rivalry that has existed for over a century, and bring the kids from each into a new school, hoping that they won't kill each other, and instead create a new bond. THEY REALLY DID. Everyone mentioned how this class forged a new path for many to come - and did it with real class and style!

The choir (Kaila included) sang an original song written by the choir teacher that was done especially for the school, accompanied by electric guitar and drums. NOT LAME - COOL!

And as they all had their names called and walked a l-o-n-g loop so that everyone in the stadium could see them... it was just perfect. And at the end, as they switched their tassels, there was a burst of unexpected FIREWORKS. Wow! And In case you're wondering... yes, I know I sound like a sappy mom, and I don't even care! That's MY Graduate!!

And in the midst of all this "Pomp & Circumstance" we watched our beautiful young lady and her fabulous group of friends with so much love and pride. What a perfect day!