July 4th

Our July 4th was pretty fun this year. With Josh working at Kneaders, and the 4th of July being a huge day for them, he worked from 4:30am-3pm. It was a terribly long day for him (not so much hours wise, but time and busy-ness wise) so he was so glad to be home when he got off. 

I got up with Elliott around 5:45 and headed to the field next to Kneaders for the hot air balloon festival they do every year. I was so bummed to find out that it was cancelled! The weather was too crummy. Jacob and Valerie were on their way over when they realized it was cancelled so we all met up at Kneaders and ate breakfast. It was actually pretty fun. After breakfast I headed home to take a nap with Elliott. When we woke up I realized that the parade was still going on, so we biked downtown and caught the last half of the parade. I somehow found Jacob and Valerie's family group and sat with them. Elliott loved it. Her favorite part was the bagpipes. Her least favorite part was the cannon. Yes, a real cannon. I don't blame her. It scared me too. 

After the parade I headed to Kneaders again (since it was on my way home) and said hi to Josh. Then I took Elliott home and put her down for her second nap. She woke up right around when Josh got off work. After a little relaxation time we met up with Kendal at the Freedom Days Festival. It's just a little festival that they put on every year. It has booths and food and a few rides. We love walking around down there. But I have to say, it was unbearably hot. Yuck. But it was still a lot of fun. We sat in the shade and listen to some bands play for a while. Elliott sat in her stroller and danced away! 

After the festival Kendal, Matt and Matt's friend Jacob came over for a BBQ. They barbecued steaks for us. Yum! Josh had to be at work at 5am the next morning and had been up since 4am so he stayed home while the rest of us went over to a little field right by the stadium to watch the fireworks from the Stadium of Fire. I had Elliott take three naps so I could take her to the fireworks and she wouldn't be too grumpy. It was a lot of fun. We met up with my friend Alex and her husband (of one week) Henry. We laid around talking and playing with Elliott until the fireworks started. It was a great show! When I was looking up details about it earlier in the day, I read that the Stadium of Fire is the biggest stadium firework show in the US. Awesome! I had no idea. 

Traffic was terrible after the show so I didn't get home until 11:30pm. Elliott was such a trooper. Needless to say, it was a long day jam packed with fun things! So we both fell right to sleep! 

Blurry, but cute. She was so tired. She is not used to waking up this early. Thank goodness. 

Her aunt Kendal made her the onsie! So cute!! 

At the parade. We tried so hard to get a good picture of her with the hat. No such luck. 

 Auntie Kendal and Elliott in their matching shirts!

 Adorable girls

 Eating a delicious donut at the Freedom Days festival

Elliott really, really liked the donuts 

That could be why she got so hyper and danced like a crazy person 

 Playing in the grass, listening to the band

 Crawling around

 So hot and bright.

 Waiting for the fireworks to start. Look at those lips!

 Playing with Alex's phone in her carseat...still waiting for the fireworks

 Watching the fireworks.

 She loved the fireworks.

 Terrible picture, but I had to include it. haha

Me and my girl. She wouldn't take her eyes off of them!

Hope everyone had a fabulous fourth!