Happy Independence Day!

I headed up to Utah on Friday to pick the kids up after we arrived home from Germany.  Joe stayed home because he had to work so I spent a few extra days up there to celebrate the 4th of July.  We stayed at my sister's house and had a great time with cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grandma and Grandpa Holt.

On Saturday, we headed to Trafalga Fun Center for some activities--rock climbing, laser tag, bumper boats, arcade games, and miniature golf.  The weather was rainy all day long but we headed there anyway.  It was extremely busy.  After we collected our golfing gear, we headed to the first hole and it started to pour.  Half of us bee-lined it to a cave on the mini-golf course while Grandma and Grandpa headed indoors.  Luckily for us the rain lasted about 15 minutes and most of the people went home.  We practically had the place to ourselves.  Grandma and Grandpa peeked out the building's door and we peeked out from the cave motioning for them to come join us.  We were completely dry and having a great time hiding out.  They raced for the cave and we all laughed and told stories while waiting for the rain to stop.  The kids actually raced around the golf course getting wet and acting silly.

When the rain stopped, we played our round of golf, rode the merry-go-round horses, climbed the rock wall, played laser tag and then hit the bumper boats where everyone got completely soaked!  I stayed back to take pictures with Grandma and Grandpa (and to make even numbers) but everyone else was drenched!

Katelyn and Sierra are climbing on the left.  Clark and Sierra are climbing on the right.  Jacob is below.

Then we headed out to dinner at Shakey's Pizza.  Cath and Jay ran home to change but I made my kids go to the restaurant wet (they did dry off a bit with the towels in Grandpa's car).  Shakey's is an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet with salad, breadsticks, pasta, and homemade root beer.  The kids loved it.  When they had full bellies but were freezing, we headed back to Cath's for warm baths and bed.

Monday was the fourth of July.  I took my boys out shopping for fireworks and independence day craft projects, then helped Cath with the food preparations for dinner.  She always hosts the Willes family for a potluck BBQ so it was going to be a full house with both families there.  Grandma and Grandpa brought over 4th of July party bags complete with silly string, bubbles, and stickers.  The kids had a great time playing outside.  Dinner was delicious and then we headed to the backyard for games before it got dark.  When it was FINALLY dark, we lined up the fireworks for Uncle Geoff to light and enjoyed the neighborhood show.  Aerial fireworks were legal in Utah this year so we saw fireworks all over the valley and around everyone's homes.  It was so exciting. 

Each child picked out their favorite firework and helped Uncle Geoff light it

When our amateur show was over, we pulled our chairs around to the backyard to watch the firework show from Thanksgiving Point.  It was amazing as well and we had a wonderful time celebrating Independence Day.  Happy Birthday, America!