~Summer Fun~

We spent two weeks in Arizona basking in the fantastically hot but delightful sun. My kids were so excited to see their grandparents and cousins. They enjoyed every minute of it. We spent a lot of time at the pool. Tyler and Katie both jumped off the diving board this year. They have become little fish. Now if they could learn how to swim. Katie took her floaties off, jumped in and sank to the bottom. Hopefully this next summer we will be able to do swim lessons.

On the 4th of July we went to a flag raising ceremony at the church and had a delicious pancake, sausage, egg, bacon breakfast. I love how there is a unity in traditions. It was great to see my nephew Shawn help with the flag ceremony.

These are the cute hats we made for the 4th of July. We needed some kind of activity for the kids when they couldn't go outside. They really loved making them and they looked really cute too.
This is the men slaving over the stove to feed all us hungry people. Okay so I can't really speak for others but I was hungry.
After breakfast, we went to the 4th of July parade in Safford. It was my kind of parade. Short and to the point. We had great seats right at the beginning of the parade in the shade. As soon as the parade was over we went to get sno cones. I think we had one almost every day we were there. I think I could eat them everyday. Colorado really needs sno cones.
We ended our day with a pot luck, swimming and fireworks. It is hard to take great pictures of fireworks without your tripod.

It was a fantastic two weeks. We had a great time with family and friends, enjoyed the weather and pool but mostly we are so thankful for the freedoms we enjoy every day. We are so very blessed to live in this free country. Thank you to all the many service men and women who fight to protect our freedoms every day.
It reminds me of Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty:
"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children"