fourth of july weekend

I've decided I'm gonna talk to the guy who's in charge of making up the calendar year and request to have the fourth of July land on a Sunday every year. Since we don't celebrate holidays in Utah on Sunday, we lucked out and had a three day celebration of Independence Day! It was a busy weekend. . . and very exhausting. . . but SO much fun.

On Friday, we went to the Veteran's Pool for my niece, Zoey's bday party. It was so fun spending time with our family. I sat and talked with the girls while Wayne entertained the children. We stayed over three hours - the girls were sound asleep before we even got out of the parking lot.

After naps we headed to the Freedom Festival. It was so good this year - there were tons of booths, lots of entertainment and the girls are now big enough to enjoy the rides. I should have got an action shot of this one - as soon as the whale started moving Kina started cracking up and Malia started crying.

Dinner was at Auntie Ireens house. A lot of family was here from out of town and it was so nice to spend time with them. (Vika, Robert, Chanel, Doug, Wayne, Joseph)

Malia LOVED playing games with the older cousins. She'd be sitting down with them and then turn around and shout to me, "Mommy, look at me!" and "Do you see me, Mom?" I think she felt special to just be included.

On Saturday, we headed back to the Freedom Festival. We played all morning and ate lunch there - I had a Pauni plate. Yum! What do you think of Kina's form - pretty good, ay?

We don't bank at Well's Fargo, but they took our family picture for us. When Malia saw the last picture in the bottom corner she asked, "Why are you mad at Kina, Mommy?" My bad.

While the girls took naps, Wayne took me to watch Eclipse. Though this one is the best movie of the Twilight saga so far, I felt the same about it as I did the others - so so. Oh well. We went to the pool again and then ended our Saturday watching fireworks from the Stadium of Fire - it was beautiful and the girls loved it.

Sunday was truly a day of rest - I slept the WHOLE day . . . literally. It was sooo nice.

On Monday, we went to the parade! I'm not a big parade person . . . or a big crowds person. . . but I knew the girls would enjoy it. We were lucky enough to have some very brave friends, Spencer and Crystal Hafoka and Travis and Mata Uale, who camped out the night before so we had an AWESOME spot. (THANKS GUYS!!) I sat in the shade the whole time (by the food table hehe) and Malia and Kina would come and sit on my lap for a few seconds in between floats but run back to their front seat immediately - I don't think they wanted to miss the show.(Sue, Mata, Me with Malia and Kina)


The actual Provo parade really isn't the bomb - it's more for the experience with friends and family, I think. BUT the highlights for me were these two floats. One was my sister-in-law, Kalo's piano students performing on grand pianos and the other was the float from our Tongan stake. It was accompanied with a dance group and the Liahona band - very cool.

Us and some of our fellow parade watchers

I love holidays because I get to spend time with my little family AND my extended family and friends. I love this holiday in particular because it really does remind me how blessed I am to be an American. I love this country!

Happy Fourth of July!
(. . .and third and fifth too! haha)