Happy 4th!

Every year, I think "We're going to keep the 4th a simpler holiday this year. It shouldn't have to feel so chaotic." Aaaand then it ends up being CRAZY. This year, we drove to Pocatello on the 3rd to stay with our friends Dustin and Cami in their beautiful new house. Dustin is one of the M7 boys, and they've been our neighbors ever since we got married, so we're missing them a TON. (Now who am I supposed to borrow powdered sugar from at 10 PM when I randomly decide to make a cake??)

We went to the Pocatello parade in the morning, and tried our best not to melt away. It was HOT.

Levi's tradition is that you HAVE to go swimming on the 4th. So we found a spot on the river that was semi-shaded (although extremely dusty), ate our pizza, and then Cami and I decided we were done sweating to death. ...Plus, that water looked like you would probably start glowing green if you swam in it too long. So she and I packed up little Hadli, and went back to her house to take a nap while everyone else swam. :) THAT should be one of my 4th of July traditions... napping.... it's Patriotic right?

When everyone was finally together again, we had our usual M7 Independence Day BBQ, and then Levi and I jetted up to Mom's to watch the Menan fireworks. The kids were so excited that we made it in time.

Zane couldn't stand still long enough for a non-blurry picture.
Sparklers are just too exciting!

Our plan was to stay the night with Mom and Dad, and then come home, but what's the use of being young if you can't be spontaneous? Deciding that it would be a great weekend to go camping, we left Mom's at 11:30 PM Thursday night, made it home at 2 AM, and left the next day to go camping. It was definitely worth it though.

A thunderstorm rolled over us as we were cooking dinner, but other than that the weather was beautiful!