A little bit different

Our Fourth of July was a little bit different than every other day around this place. We opted out of the parade this year. There's no way we would have been able to restrain Snacks on our laps for the duration of the big ol' Provo parade. Nope. We did hit up our old neighborhood's annual block party and said hello to some old friends. We also had a yummy barbecue with Paul's family. And we all watched the Stadium of Fire fireworks from our neighbors' backyard, including Snacks. (He went to bed at 8:00 but woke up around 9:30 and refused to go back to sleep. Guess he didn't want to miss out on the fireworks! Actually, he has a nasty sore throat - some virus - that was/is disrupting his sleep (Paul took him to the doctor's today).)

One new thing that made our Fourth extra cool that I think we will continue in the years to come is attending the Balloon Fest. About 25 hot air balloons inflate and fly out of Bulldog Field in Provo. Activities commence at 6:30 a.m. What in the world kind of crazy event starts at 6:30 in the morning?!? Needless to say, we were not there at 6:30 a.m., but we were close, but not close enough see the balloons actually inflate, only to see them taking off. No matter. After they all took off and flew some distance away, they all headed back to the field where they tried to either throw something out of their balloons to hit a target or pop regular balloons that were floating above the field - or both - for points. Whoever got the most points won. It was impressive. And very cool. D's favorite balloons were the leaf balloon and the piglet balloon. Snacks, well, Snacks was more interested in cars and people than balloons. Also, since the field is right across from the hospital, we got to watch the Life Flight helicopter take off. Bonus!!!

Can you find the leaf balloon? How about the piglet balloon??

Paul watching the balloons. Snacks not watching the balloons.

If you haven't had a good chuckle today, this should help the cause. I'm not sure what is going on here. He looks, um, horrified? Amazed? Shocked? Mesmerized? Like he sees a UFO? Help me out here! What I do know is that Paul simply asked him to give a thumbs-up. (For maximum laughs, click on the picture to enlarge.)

Me and the Attack watching the balloons maneuver.

Cute little D monkey watching the balloons. He loved it. Next year we'll see them take off too buddy, next year.

Oh, and this activity came in a second close to the Balloon Fest - making a Flag Cake. D was begging to do this for three days before the Fourth. He seriously could not wait. He helped me make the chocolate cake (which was a really weird recipe - Quick Chocolate Cake - from the Better Homes & Gardens, but I guess it tasted decent) and then helped me frost and decorate it. I tried, my friends, not to correct all the crooked strawberry stripes, but didn't try hard enough. I did okay not correcting the cutely scattered blueberries. Isn't he cute! (Oh, and in case you are wondering, no, he did not eat any of the cake. Not even a bite. He had an ice cream cone instead. Progress...)

Happy Independence Day! God bless America! Nothing brings a tear to my eye or a wave of goose bumps quicker than a good hearty singing of The Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful. What a fabulous and much-too-short holiday. Love the Fourth of July!!!