I haven't written in a long time. It just seems like there is nothing really to report. I always have Emma and Tanner stories but for the most part my life is just so simple and easy going. And I love it that way! Days consist of exercising, cooking new healthy recipes, eating right and spending time with friends and family. I am so blessed to have an ideal life. I am trying to get ready for a mission and that means reading and study time too. The only thing I am missing (besides the tracyclan that isn't here) is my writing time. I have to figure out a way to get that in. I have to make it a priority!!!!!! I fall asleep thinking about my books and wake up doing the same thing and then my day is off and running...no written pages...
Well our Fourth of July was a nice one in the end. Cait woke up feeling really sick. Joel had a big test on Tuesday and then his teacher sent home the rest of the test as a take home test. He spent three hours Tuesday night on it and at least as much time Wed. It was so hard to watch him spend his holiday doing homework. Tanner had lost our last phone Tues. night and so we had no phone. I don't blame him or anything - it is such a good toy. No matter what we seemed to do with it, he always got his hands on it. Well we couldn't find it anywhere. While Cait and the kids took their naps I headed to the store for a new one.
Then it was time to get ready for dinner. The Elders were coming and Drew and Amber. Whew! We almost ordered pizza. It was a little hectic but not bad and so we celebrated the holiday with barbeque chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, pasta salad, watermelon, and cold slaw. Amber brought a yummy dessert and we were set.
Remember how Uncle Steve would always bring fireworks when he came for the 4th? Well I bought some...for the first time in my life. I got some sparklers and pop-its too.
After dinner we used the pop-its and a few sparklers to test the reactions of Emma and Tanner. They really got into it. Emma was jumping on them to make them pop if she couldn't throw them hard enough. That was when Tanner got into the leftover watermelon. We went to the park to watch the fireworks across the lake. This time we went to the water's edge to view them. Not one obstacle in the way. Emma waded in the water and the kids enjoyed the pre-show of everyone around us. Joel took the opportunity to cut cattails and prepare them for a snack (although he didn't give me any...bummer). The fireworks were delightful. There were some that I had never seen before. I think that fireworks are definitely something you should always brave the crowds for. They are SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a special treat.
Then we came home and lit ours. We sat around the fire pit and ooohed and aaahed. Such simple pleasures. What a joy! I love the fourth. I love all that goes with it. Hurray for the land and life I love!