We spent our fourth of July separated. It was sad. At first we weren't going to do anything. Why would we? The kids are gone. Then I realized Dane is here and he deserves to do something. Even though he doesn't know, understand, or care - I specifically remember Brock's fourth of July at this age and I was so excited to do fun things with him (we went to a parade, went up to Sundance ski resort (he discovered bugs), and watch fireworks) and Dane deserves the same amount of enthusiasm as Brock got. Unfortunately, it is the Summer of Covid and all activities, parties, and parades were cancelled. But one family from our ward suggested we go on a bike parade around our neighborhood park. So we all got out og the house by 8:30 and went on the bike parade.
Then we went home and took naps...
Then that evening we went to a BBQ at the Neyenhuis'. Fireworks were ban because it was too dry. But we had a great time anyways, especially Dane who apparently got to eat unlimited amount of chips because all the big kids kept leaving open bags all over. Every time we looked over at him he was eating another bag. It was I think the best day of his life up to that point.
My sister, Ashley, sent these cute 4th of July outfits and matched all the other grand kids back in Utah.
Our kids spent the Fourth in Utah. The night before they slept at Katie's house. In the morning she went out and did a photo shoot with them. She actually got them to wear Levi's which I can't understand how. The last time I tried to get them to wear Levis they cried.
Then they went to grandma's house and had a water fight.
Then they had a bbq and frosted cookies.
More photos. Ashley bought everyone their outfits!
All the girl cousins (except for Eve)
Fireworks were ban in Utah as well - but they could do sparklers.
By way of journaling I should mention the state of the Union during this fourth of July. The country is very unstable right now. During the holiday weekend we were dealing with Covid and on top of that we are having race protests/riots all over the country. Earlier in the summer a black man named George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in a very public and brutal way. This sparked protests, which brought out similar stories of police brutality, which turned into riots. Everything has now turned political and has turned American's against each other. It was a strange Fourth of July because it almost felt like that if you were patriotic and posted a flag on social media or stated your allegiance to America people took it as you hate black people. Also with Covid going on for 5 months and many of our freedoms being taken away it made us all realize that our rights and freedoms are not guaranteed and in the blink of an eye we really can loose the "America" we have always known. I don't know if 2020 is really going to be a historic turning point or just an anomaly but right now things seems scary and uncertain.
