A Spectacular Celebration!

So, on Friday, we went to Sean's for a traditional 4th of July cookout- helps that it's his b-day! Stephanie makes sure there is always plenty of yummy food and treats- this year it was fantastic, as usual! I ate more in those few hours than I do in 2 normal days!! I made these yummy sugar cookies, which the children decorated- for the recipe, see my Recipe Blog here!

Fun! Sean is huge on fireworks, and so, we had fireworks! Lots of them, and they were great! Sean knows fireworks and he did a great job with them. My kids were in heaven watching and listening to them, and even Celeste had a good time- the sparklers were so colorful and bright- my pics aren't that clear, but you get the idea...

I took 80 pictures in those hours, by the way- so many to choose from, so I just did these collages so I could showcase more of them! Spending time like this with my family is one of my favorite things to do, and this year was just fantastic. Here is Sean on his big day... This is my niece, Adriana, she and Leah are the best of friends.


We brought our friend, Rick along for the party, and he and Dana stayed at this place pretty much the whole time... Just kidding, Dana was hanging with the girls, too...


I didn't know until after I took this that Celeste had her mouth open too! Dana just said, right before it snapped to "open your mouth"! It turned out too funny!
Us girls know how to have a good time, too!


Here we are with Celeste and her cake again!
This is how my camera picked up fireworks shots- not as great as I had hoped, but still kinda cool.

I love celebrating our country's freedom this way- we loved watching fireworks from their town (we can see them from their backyard- how nice is that?!)

On Sunday, our RS President gave a lesson on Patriotism that I will not soon forget. It was so spiritual and powerful- I love this country, and everyday I am so grateful for the sacrifices of so many men and women who have given all for this wonderful, choice land. I love reading about the Declaration of Independence, and about the men who signed it and the tremendous sacrifice it was for them, but they loved this country more than life- their own. I feel deeply indebted to those men and so many others. Freedom has it's price- it is never free, and I pray that I never take it for granted and that I am able to teach my children that this is something to cherish, honor and ultimately respect throughout their lives.

Happy Birthday, America, land that I love.

This, by the way, is my favorite verse of America the Beautiful:

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife.

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divine!

It always brings tears to my eyes, and holds a special place in my heart.