Independence Day 2012
  These past 2 independence days have been very special. Last year, we were complete with Andrew's family for the first time, and this year my whole family was complete for the first time during the celebrations. So it has been a very 'joyous' celebration for all sorts of reasons. This year we had another fun-filled day planned. It started with our ward's patriotic breakfast at our bowery (learned this new word, it is the grassy area with the pavilion behind our church)

 

 

 

 looking for ants, kids always seem so fascinated by this :)

 the Dutch-oven cook off winners

After the breakfast we drove up to Kaysville to join my siblings and their families at the Kaysville parade. My brother's wife has a friend who let us join her nice shade spot to watch. Thanks! The kids had a blast. As a side-note, Andrew is not the biggest fan of parades (can you tell from his face in most of the pictures???) but I love him for coming anyways and joining in the fun. No holiday would be fun for me without spending it with him.

 

 My lovely Sister and I

 

 

 

 

 

 Classic parade face!

 

After the parade we headed back to my parents house in Ogden where we all gathered for a BBQ. There was lots of yummy food and company and lots of children! It's so fun seeing so many cousins to play with.

 

 

 

Then, we took some new and updated family shots. We didn't get an entire Blom family shot, since Kate and the baby stayed home, but we were able to take an updated May family picture and The Blom's with kids. Pretty fun!

  

 

Then, after dinner Andrew and I put our kids to bed at Oma's house and drove over to Mike's house with Sander and his girls to watch some fireworks. These are the only pictures I took there. It was a fun end to a very fun day! happy birthday America! I am grateful that my whole family lives here now :)