Happy 4th, one week late

On the night of the 4th we came home at about 10:30 and went to bed. It had been a long day of festivying and plus, Mikey had to work early the next morning. Our day had been full, beginning at 5:30 AM when Mikey got up to ride his bike up Provo Canyon with his brother. I couldn't fall back asleep, but it was fine since I had to make a run to the parade route and pick up the tents and extra blankets from the night before. My little brother saved our spots right in front of the Provo Library. We rewarded him with pizza money.

The parade was almost as magical as I remember it from my years and years of growing up sitting on the front row of the parade route, throwing poppers and clapping for the floats. My grandma would always bring chocolate donuts from Dunford Bakery and a few gallons of milk. We had a variation on the theme and ate chocolate banana muffins and chocolate milk while watching the marching bands, state troopers, old cars, dancers, floats, horses and politicians roll on by.

Next it was the BBQ circuit. Lunch with my mom's side followed by a water fight and then a beautiful party hosted by Mike's parents. It was so beautiful and festive, even the straws had red polka dots. After dinner, dessert, and playing what seemed like several hundred rounds of "Tah-rah-rah-boom-dee-aaae" we drove to my grandma's house for more dessert, more games, and more celebration.

See why 10:30 seemed like an adequate time to call it quits?

It wasn't until a few days later that we realized we hadn't watched a single firework. Oh well. It was a Happy Independence Day all the same.