July 4, 2017

The Fourth of July in St George can be a little tricky.  Some years have been really boring.  It is usually extremely hot.  Which is sad because I LOVE this holiday.  One year, after a particularly long and boring day, I vowed to NEVER spend another Fourth of July in St George.  So for a couple of years, we went to Temecula and had a great time.  It used to be a fun, hot time in Hooper, but we've long since stopped doing that reunion.  Last year, St George started a concert in the stadium with fireworks after the show.  We all won tickets and attended and it was really, really fun.  So, Sunee and I decided to make this year even better.  The only way to get tickets is to win them, so last week Sunee, Greg, and I waited in 115-degree weather for an hour to win tickets for our family.

Sunee and I started the day with a five-mile run together.  We haven't done that in ages!  It was really fun.  Sunee has been working really hard this summer to build up to it.

Then we all met at Sunee's house for a yummy pancake breakfast.  I brought my homemade buttermilk syrup, and Kyle made pancakes, and Sunee made a yummy ham and egg quiche.  We had a great time together.

Back at home, I laid down and fell promptly asleep.  I was so tired!

When I finally got up, we pulled ourselves together and got ready for our Luau.  All day long Greg had been smoking some kahlua pork.  I made some rice, and Sunee brought over some teriyaki chicken and a really yummy salad.  We swam and had a great time relaxing and eating.

Jacobsens and Eardleys--Fourth of July Luau!!

JULIA!!

In the end, we decided to forego the concert.  The kids were sad, but Kyle's family was having a get together that they felt like they should go to, and it was super hot, and Greg really didn't want to go.  We ended up just heading over at about 9:30 to set up for the fireworks.  We had lots of glow sticks for the kids and the night was warm and beautiful.

Finally the fireworks started exploding above us.  There is something so familiar and fun about fireworks on the Fourth of July.  I love the way my heart swells with patriotism, and the way the fireworks reflect off of the faces of those I love.  I love snuggling my little ones and oohing and aahing at the display.  It's one of my favorite things.  I always take a minute to look around.  And I feel so much happiness.  Oh, how I love summer!!!

Julia

Miles

Emma

Dad

Owen

Happy Fourth of July!