Fourth of July

The Fourth of July was a fun holiday for our family. We went to the parade, (15 minutes long a mile from our house. Perfectly perfect!) 25% of the parade were emergency vehicles, Elena was fast asleep when we got there, anticipating the noise I used her elephant ears to block the noise. She slept through the first two vehicles/sirens, but by firetruck three, she lost it. we left with pockets full of candy, Popsicles, and pinwheels. We went home and cooled off with lunch and a movie while Lacey took a nap and I made a fruit salad. We were invited to the Temple's home for ribs (yum!) and boating. We had a lovely time. The kids enjoyed their first tubing behind a boat experience and Kevin's smile was a mile wide for a few days following. 

The next day we played in the water and had dinner outside when out of no where we were swarmed with Mosquitos, the soaking wet baby was put in the sink to finish her dinner.

Elena mastered the back to belly roll, sweet giggles and the ability to drool gallons in just a short amount of time. 

Lacey became obsessed with her rain boots and after wearing the for two days and two nights without removing them once, I finally pried them off to find blisters on her feet. I had to hide them from her because she had great big crocodile tears when I wouldn't put them right back on.

A few days after the fourth Cody was asked to attend a third business trip in the month of August. We already had a trip planned to Idaho for July, so we decided to extend our plane tickets and stay longer. I've been counting my blessings, Cody has since then been asked to attend a fourth trip and we decided to throw in his final private pilot test in the mix leaving him in the state of New Hampshire for two whole days for the month of August. Whew! 

While I packed, the kids played. They found ginormous mushrooms and a pet slug. And due to the need to eat all that we had, we ate out a few nights before leaving. We had Chinese, and after having seen Shrek a million times in the last few months, we kept calling Lacey's teriyaki steak a Weed rat. The kids were getting a kick out of it and wanted a picture of her. 

The three weeks before coming to Idaho I participated in a slim down. These pictures are April 14- July 12. Losing 13 pounds and lots of inches. It feels so good to be in control of my body again and I've loved my exercise/eating routine. Insanity is where it's at for me...correction, US. Cody has been on board, and we have been counting calories and working out together. I love it!

To celebrate our departure to Idaho, Kevin and I wore our Idaho shirts the day before we left. This Idaho trip has been dubbed, #thepartyof21013 because it has been one party after another. We have burned our candles at both ends and loved every second of being with our families. 

We are blessed and we know it.