Explosions in the Sky

Pops in the Park. 

The Schreiner Family.

Bluegrass Music.

Fireworks.

Oooing and Ahhing.

Skyping with the Family.

A Day off Work.

Pasha's.

Reading.

Watching a storm come in. 

Definitely a great 4th of July weekend!

Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th! I know we did :) Since the US' independence day landed on a Sunday we, of course, went to church. It was a wonderful time fellowshipping with the believers at Christ Fellowship.

After church and dinner we were going to go to a park with Grandma to watch a fireworks show, but the weather did not cooperate, and those fireworks were canceled. But it seemed like those were the only fireworks canceled. We stepped outside onto the Elliff's porch and all we could hear was, "Boom! Bang! Snap. BOOM!" Not only could we simply hear them, but we could also see quite a few fireworks :) So, the Elliffs, Simpsons, and our family (minus Damarise who was sick :( ) stood out on the porch in the drizzle and watched the fireworks :) It was great.

After the fireworks seemed to have ended, and the rain began to pour down, we headed home. But on our way home we saw some amazing fireworks off in the distance. So we pulled under and overpass and watched a brilliant firework display.

We were snuggled warmly in the van, under an overpass so our car was staying dry, and still had a great view of fireworks lighting up a stormy sky.

It was definitely a memorable 4th of July filled with fun, wetness, and sporadic fireworks :)

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!

For the 4th of July we were out in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with our cousin and her family. It was really fun to be in such a touristy town for the 4th :)

We went out into town around 10am to watch a parade. It was fun and really neat to be in the States celebrating the 4th! All the Americans were so patriotic :) It was cool.

After the parade we walked around town to see what was around.

A fire hydrant. :)

Andrew and Benjamin Franklin.

Sam and Ben.

Since the town was pretty packed full of people after the parade we decided to head up into the mountains to look at a waterfall.

So we hiked down a short path...


Until we came to the falls. WOW! It was beautiful!

Damarise and me by the falls.

Damarise taking a picture of the two most wonderful parents ever!

And the picture :) Awww...

Tara, Raley and Sam.

Damarise.... the photographer.

Yep, I was there :)

Sam going through all his treasures that he got from the 4th of July parade.

Mom and Dad :) Awwwww

Damarise and me in our 4th of July garb :)

We went back to our cousin's house after the hike to rest before heading back into town to watch the fireworks.

Cody. Their horse.

Raley was showing us her cool flip off the horse.

Sarah enjoying riding a horse. She loves horses!

Damarise and me... we didn't ride the horses ;)

And when night came we went back in town for the fireworks.

It was freezing! I have never ever in my whole life been cold on the 4th of July! But, when the fireworks started it was totally worth the cold!

Andrew in his festive hat :)

And Sam keeping his head warm. :)

The fireworks!

So pretty!

These willow tree looking ones were my favourite!

And the finale!!! Way cool!!!

Here's the video clip of the finale! It was amazing!!!

Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July was a wonderful day! :) In every single way! :) We started off the day by singing all the American songs we could think of at breakfast :) Like, our national anthem, "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country Tis of Thee" and I think that's it :) It definitely made everyone feel more patriotic through out the day :) After breakfast we painted nails and got out the water paints :)

Aunt Julie did her own nails! Wow! Don't they look amazing?!

I painted Gracie's face... Hmm it was supposed to be a star... but..  it looked more like a star fish;) hehe..

And Gracie did mine... Now she did one amazin' looking star!!!

We love our country!!! :D

Hehe, then in the afternoon we were all gonna go to the Maddux house for a 4th of July party. So Gracie and Sarah went to work on a strawberry (box mix!!) cake :) Mmmm...

And the icing!!! :D Yum!

Then Gracie painted Andrew's face... she did an amazing job drawing the US on his cheek!

And Sarah drew on lil' Andrew's face! Great flag, Sarah!

Bethy and Damarise put the icing on the cake... and I put the sprinkles on :)

Ta da!

Andrew loves the icing!

The cake in all it's patriotism! :)

And that's how I looked on the 4th of July :)

And Gracie :) Cute cute!

Aunt Julie wrote God Bless USA on Benaiah's cheek. 

And Damarise and Bethy decorated my feet :) hehe.. Thanks guys!

And my hand ... although it came off when I washed it...

Aunt Julie making tortillas ... And her apron is patriotic too! Wow! :)

Then I got to draw stripes on Bethy and Damarise's faces.

:) Andrew, Sarah, Gracie, Ian, Benaiah, and Lil' Andrew had all gone to the Maddux earlier. So, later on Damarise, Bethy, Kent, Aunt Julie and I went :)

Playing a water balloon type volleyball type thing?! :)

Damarise, Bethy and I hung out with the lil' Roger kids :) fun fun!

Aw! :)

Asher and Renata! Aren't the CUTE!

Lil' Andrew popped a balloon on himself... and his paint started to run run run...

It's three Andrews!!!!!! (and Sylvia ;) )

The American Flag! :D 

Gracie's nails! (look at how long they are!!! Wooo Hooo!)

Damarise and Kent getting ready to play horse shoes!

Speaking of shoes... ;)

Aw! I love you both!

Sylvia and Sarah!

Aw! Esther!  So patriotic looking :)

Cute!

All the American teen girls here :)

Damarise rocked at horse shoes! She horse shoed the pole at least 3 times! wow!

While Kent, Damarise, Bethy and I (Andrew I. for part of the time too) played horse shoes, the other kids played Spud:)

All the kids :)

The sun setting :)

So we decided to head on home..

People were going crazy with the camera ;)

Aw!

We came home to a wonderful dinner :) Like every night! :) :)  And watched "Alvin and the Chipmunks" :)

And that was our Fourth of July :) It was a wonderful day... in every way :)