Fourth of July?

Yes, this post is about the 4th of July. Like I said, we've not been home, therefore the blogging has suffered. This year was an incredible fourth and there is no way I could not share it. Let me start in 1983. That's the year I started going up to Utah to spend the summers with my Grandma and cousins. I went every summer until I was 16 and every year my Aunt bought us matching cousin outfits to wear on the fourth. The town is absolutely tiny (no stoplights) and they always have the perfect all-American small town parades, carnival, and fireworks display. The celebration is one of my absolute favorite memories from my childhood and I jumped at the chance this year to share it with my boys. So, Josh, Dash and I flew over to Albuquerque and then drove up to Blanding, Utah. Of course, my amazing Aunt Patty had the boys' cousin shirts all ready for them! We stayed with my Grandma Arthur in her little house that always fits our family just right. And what a blessing! Little did we know that would be our last time at Grandma's house before the stroke. Oh praise God we went. It was a wonderful weekend. Full of family, food, and a whole lot of red, white and blue. Josh was surrounded by cousins his age, which is the greatest delight to his heart. He stayed up to watch his first fireworks display and ate way too much candy! I really hope this can become a tradition that they will grow up and cherish as well.

Four girls, five boys, all under the age of five, all in cousin shirts.

His hand on his heart as the flag comes by. Love it.

cousin time

Perfect.