A Busy, Patriotic Day

 Our 4th of July holiday began with Chris and Jared setting up flags around the city as part of a Boy Scout fundraiser.

 The girls enjoyed dressing up in Red, White and Blue.

 Jared participated in a flag ceremony at our church's Annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast.

 Even Seth is ready to celebrate!

 We got everyone together for a family photo, then the kids were off with their friends for the rest of the breakfast.

 At 3pm, we had a get together with the 8 families of the adults on the Youth Conference committee for church as Youth Conference was the following day.  Many of the adults were busy putting the final touches on the planning for Youth Conference while the kids played, but then we all enjoyed a BBQ feast.

The kids enjoyed playing on a huge slip n slide, swimming in the kiddie pool, having a wet sponge water fight, a water balloon fight, eating popsicles, making up their own games, playing on the swing set, and drinking LOTS of sodas!

 Once it got dark, we headed down to the fire pit for sparklers and S'mores.

 Then the boys had fun with pyrotechnics...

 while the girls danced to our Mattson Rock Van CD.

We finished off the day by watching the big fireworks set off at Bissett Park, we are lucky enough to be able to see them from our house.  What I don't have pictures of is Jared working at the concessions stand the whole evening at the park, his first real job.  He was so excited when he found out that he earned $57 for his hard work.  We were all really tired when we headed to bed around midnight, but it was worth it.