Independence Day, Eden Style

Emmy started off the day by volunteering to herd the chickens back to their coop.

Which is kinda funny because later that day we watched a "chicken chase" which was a bunch of little 3 year olds chasing chickens around the horse arena. It was basically what you are seeing here, times 50.

Let me begin by telling you that there is nothing in the world like Liberty Days, in Liberty Utah. It is small town to the max. My Dad volunteered with the breakfast (it's tradition) and he scrambled eggs for 3 hours straight. My Mom headed up the eating contests (she made 14 pies and 80 hot dogs!) and we all participated in the parade.

Ahhh... the Liberty days parade.

It's grown since I was 5, but it's still small town awesome.

When I was little it consisted of the sheriff's truck, and thousands (or so it seemed to this 5 year old) (probably more like 30) kids on streamer-clad bicycles. One year I walked the parade while playing "Yankee Doodle" on my recorder. I kid you not. It was incredible.

And now here I am, conning my own kids into doing it too! How cool is that?!

This was the parade this year:

Check it out! We got a fire truck!

That fire truck was the source of major emotional tragety for my little 3 year old.

Someone decided that the kids on bike should ride in front of it, so off Emmy went. But when that fire truck started following her and blasting it's sirens it scared her so bad she almost fell off her bike. She was absolutely convinced that he was going to run over her. I felt so bad for her, it was really sad!

So we ditched the bike, and she jumped on the float with my Mom (compliments of the Nordic Valley Ward Primary kids).

I relieved Tess of pulling the wagon so she could go do... something else. What? I don't remember.

Jonah and Lainey were in the wagon, and it was DECKED OUT!! Tess and I spent the better part of Friday covered in crepe paper and tape. And of course, when parade time came, my memory card was full. So no pics. But I heard lots of other people got photos, and hopefully I'll be able to insert one later.

It was sweet. And the two little cousins loved it.

We spent the rest of the day in the park, then barbecuing with Caleb's family in Bountiful, visiting great friends in Mountain Green, then headed back to Liberty Days for the fireworks.

The hour or two leading up to fireworks is one of my very most favorite times of the whole year.

The whole park is filled with the families of my childhood. A lot of my friends also come back to Liberty Days every year, so it's fun to see them. And family too. Lots of family! Blankets, Frisbee's, cool mountain evening air, Grandma's popcorn, and sparklers! There's nothing better! Caleb got some beautiful shots of fireworks this year. These are a few of my favorites: You gotta love high power explosives.

I love my country.

It was a great fourth.