4th of July (better late than never)

Backing WAY up...

Did I ever mention that I lost my camera this summer?  Immediately after our 4th of July excitement it disappeared, and did not turn up for another 6 weeks.  That's my (lame) excuse for why I missed posting so many summer activities.

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The morning of the 4th was our new ward's first annual Independence Day Breakfast, and, Oh My!, did they set the bar high.  For starters, the breakfast was homemade cinnamon bread french toast.  Wow.  Just, wow.  The highlight of the morning was the bike parade complete with a decorating station.  

Bryce, though a relatively novice bike rider at that point, was intent on keeping up with his uber-adventurous friend and went flying around the track.

Immediately after the breakfast, we hopped in the car and took our most-travelled route to see our friends in Royal City.  Ashlee and Tyler were doing charity work in the Dominican Republic, so we got to stay with another set of our favorite people, Spencer and Andrea.  But first, we joined the holiday festivities at "the pond."  Of course, our kids immediately returned to their preferred activities: kayaking, swimming, eating, and playing with friends.

Since this was our second year attending, the kids knew a bit more what to expect, and what they most looked forward to was the serve-yourself-ice-cream machine.  "Don't worry, Mom," Aubree reassured me, "I only had five."

After a solid day of fun, Graham and Thane were exhausted.  I scooped them up and skipped out early - putting them happily to bed at Spencer and Andrea's long before the fireworks began.  

When Mark got back hours later, Aubree and Bryce were giddy with the excitement of seeing the fireworks and the adrenaline of being out so late.  Regardless, they were all up early the next day, eager to get in another full day of fun and friends.  We started the day with a tennis tournament.  Bryce, despite the fact that he'd never before played, was especially persistent with trying to learn and keep up with the more experienced country cousins.  Aubree was more interested in playing with sweet Megan.  

In the afternoon, we went over to another amazing sister, Shaina's, home.  Despite being very pregnant, and taking care of Ashlee and Tyler's four children for the week, Shaina enthusiastically provided dinner and s'mores and roasted Starbursts.

Bryce standing just across the street from Shaina's

Roasted Starbursts were a novelty for my kids, and ever since that day, Shaina's name is spoken in awed tones.

You would think that would be plenty of excitement for one day, right?  Not the case this time around.  We gathered again with the whole extended family (when we're there, they just sweep us along and treat us just as if we were family), where they found a leftover pinata and sponsored an impromptu party.

Sometimes I'm amazed my kids are even willing to come home after a weekend in Royal.