Happy Independance Day

What a fabulous weekend! We are so blessed to live in a free country. Really, despite the economy, there is still hope of living the American Dream...even if we're poor as dirt, we still have more than most.

I started a book this week that my dad has had for years called "The White Indian Boy" along with its sequel, "The Return of the White Indian Boy". It's a historical biography of 'Nick Wilson', who crossed the plains from Nauvoo to Utah as a seven-year-old boy in 1850. He ran away from home with a wild band of Indians when he was 12, rode for the Pony Express later as a teen and young adult, and helped to settle Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He saw many a gruesome battle, endured the deaths of half his children, and found joy in the simplicity of God's gentle hand. It's a fascinating book. It'll make you laugh and make you cry. It's written by himself, and then the sequel is by his son, Charley Wilson. It is a fabulous and easy read (probably a 3rd grade level). Just thought I'd share that, since it, too, helped me to appreciate the freedoms I enjoy now.

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We spent the day Friday, July 3rd, with my family in Lava at their "world class swimming and diving complex". We had a BLAST! Afterward we listened to thunder and watched lightening threaten our hot-dog cook. It was so fun to see Keith and Tricia, and have the whole family together!!! (except for Elder Crandall...Reed is returning home on August 15th!!!)

Saturday, we attended the Rexburg parade with Ryan's sister, his brother, and their spouses and kids. The boys loved having all the cousins to play with. We ended up with almost the whole family there! We had lunch in the backyard, with all the goods, including Watermelon. I don't think the 4th of July is complete without that grainy, runny, juicy, odd fruit! Can you tell I enjoyed that part??? Taylor had at least 8 wedges, and they weren't small, either!

We ended the day with $$$ worth of fireworks, thanks to Ryan, his brother Mitch and sister Debbie. The kids had a blast watching uncle Ryan light the night sky while the rest of us visited on the lawn.

It was a fabulous weekend, with SO much fun!!! The most disappointing part, was that I was not thinking as I took pictures with THE camera, that I didn't check the settings...just snapped pictures. So, as you're looking through the slide show and thinking to yourself that they look weird, that's because they were all WAY under exposed. I tried to doctor up a few of the shoots, but they didn't turn out so well. Oh well...better luck next year!