Wowzers!!! We had nothing short of an epic 4th of July weekend. I’m telling you, I’m darn pooped.
Pooped out on fun.
Pooped out on festivities.
Pooped out on family.
ALL in a good way!
From Friday to Saturday, we did nothing but activity after activity, wearing our kids out to the brink of meltdowns all in the name of family fun. They can survive one measly weekend without sleep or healthy food or structure or discipline…right??? Yeah…
Anyway, it was all worth it. Every last minute.
Here’s the recap:
1. Pre-4th of July Party at Aunt Jan’s: Oh my! There is nothing like spending the evening at Aunt Jan’s house. Even though they live in a neighborthood, you feel like you are in your own personal paradaise when you go to their home. They have a pond on the side of their house; ducks, ducklings, lilly pads, and all. Their backyard has THREE swings: a sitting hammock, a traditional hammock, and a cute vintage wooden swing hanging from their mature oak tree. Seriously paradise.
Emry even had her first experience with fireworks. She was not very impressed, to say the least. She was more focused on holding her bag of loot from the pinata. Braelyn, on the other hand, overcame her fear of fireworks and was a sparkler fanatic!
The girls loved the festivities. We grilled hamburgers, busted pinatas (a grandma Kaye tradition for EVERY holiday), drew with sidewalk chalk, and swung to our hearts content. Pure HEAVEN.
2. 4th of July Morning Hike: It’s beyond me how my parents have lived in this neighborhood in Utah for FIVE years and I have never known about this waterfall hike that is literally 5 minutes away and only a 15 minute hike. WHAT?! So, of course, I made Ben, the girls, and my little brother trek out there for some morning exercise.
The girls LOVED the hike and acted like little adventurers exploring the mountainside. They found caves, climbed up boulders, and discovered loads of rolly pollies along the path. Too bad Emry cared more about her fruit snacks than the actual waterfall at the end.
3. Family Swim Time: After our hike, and Emry taking a long, much needed nap, we headed over to the neighborhood pool for some extended family swim time. We splashed around with aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends. The girls wouldn’t let Ben out of their sight; he had just returned from Hawaii/Pennsylvania/Phoenix after not seeing the girls for 23 days! They were a little obsessed to say the least.
Pool time was a definite success, especially since nobody (aka: Emry) pooped in the pool…uh, not saying that she did that last time and shut down the entire pool. Okay, maybe she did. Can’t say that was my proudest parenting moment. But she held it all in for the 4th. Hooray!
4. Goggins’ Annual 4th of July Barbecue: After swimming we headed back over to my parents’ house for the annual Goggins’ barbecue. We had over 50 people come; aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, college roommates, fiances, friends…you name it. Everyone knows they are welcome when it comes to the 4th!
We ate delicious BBQ which my dad fabulously grilled and smoked (using his brand new Traeger grill my brother bought him for Father’s Day, shaming us all) and everyone contributed to the potluck. I have never seen so much food in my entire life! Not even at Thanksgiving.
My favorite part of the feast was running into my mom in the kitchen cutting up onions. I was VERY surprised to discover her method for keeping onion juice out of her eyes…
After the feast, we busted more pinatas, played volleyball, face painted, swung some more, and of course lit off fireworks. My uncle buys hundreds of dollars worth of fireworks every year and we have our own personal semi-professional fireworks display right in our cul-de-sac.
Yep, I’d pretty much say this 4th of July was a success. Good family, friends, food, and fireworks. What more could you ask for on this special holiday???
I have to say, I am so grateful to live in a country where my rights are protected and my freedoms are valued. I am thankful each and every day that I have been able to choose this life. To choose my religion, to choose my spouse, to choose to have my sweet amazing girls. I wouldn’t have my life any other way.
So thank you to all that have fought to keep these freedoms alive. You are all my heroes.
How was your 4th of July holiday?
