Independence Day!

I'm not so great and taking the right pictures to capture the moments, but here are a few that I did get. We last-minute decided to run the 5K here in Grantsville and stay here for the rest of the festivities. I decided that small town holiday celebrations are the best. Less crowd, close to home. We could walk in the stroller most of the events. And I learned that the kids & I can have holiday parties even if David isn't home. We also went to the parade, pony rides, and made it through half the fireworks before Belle decided she was tired and was ready to go. We just went to the Jr High for the fireworks--no crowd, not as LOUD, and great view, a block away from home. Perfect.

I realized as I was just looking through the pictures that I don't have ANY of Keith! His first Fourth and no pictures! Arrghhh!! He mostly just endured the day of running him around, but was a trooper through it all. Even when he messed his diaper right at the start line of the 5K and I had left all the diapers in the car! Poor kid had to wait through the whole thing to get cleaned up! I think I was holding him every time I took a picture.



Waiting for the parade to start (with her baby & baby's car seat that have gone with us everywhere (literally) the last two weeks)







I can't express just how much Belle enjoyed her pony rides. She went four times, chatted the whole time, charmed all the people at the equestrian park, loved the little ponies and thanked them for the ride, and has been talking about it and asking to go again ever since. I wanted to see if they had pony rides somewhere because I knew she would love it, but I never would have known where to go if I hadn't been handed a flier at the parade. There is a full-service equestrian park in Grantsville with an indoor arena, lessons, dressage competitions and everything. They gave the rides right at their facility. I am now on their mailing list for future events, and have satisfied Belle by telling her "next time they get the ponies out to give rides, we'll go again". We'll see how long that lasts.