The 4th of July

No one does the 4th of July like Philly!  Being the birthplace of America, they celebrate for a week.  There are so many different activities and events going on, its hard to choose what to go to.  We kicked off our holiday with fireworks at Penn's Landing on the Delaware River. 

The Roberts and the Clarks came to party it up with us

Some of our favorite neighbors, the Tenny's, had us over on the 3rd to watch the Upper Darby fireworks from their backyard.  It was great fun! (but I forgot my camera, oops)

Of course we had to go downtown for the Philadelphia parade!  We love this parade.  For as loud and as fun as it is... there is also an incredible spirit there.  A gratitude that you feel for all the men and women who have fought, are fighting, and will fight for our country.  I always think of my brother, Jake, who is a pilot in the Air Force.  I think of the times he was deployed.  How grateful I am that he is safe and of how incredibly proud of him we all are.  There were many times during the parade that I couldn't help but tear up.  So proud to be an American!!

They started the parade with a military jets fly-over.  We, especially Tate, were so amazed.  It definitely reminded us of our 'Uncle Jake'.

Watching the Revolutionary Soldiers march down the street, playing 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' is so incredible.  The video doesn't do it justice.  It humbles you to think of the sacrifices those men and women made.

The red flag is for 9-11.  I couldn't get a good pic, but it has the twin towers with a star where each of them were hit.  Another very touching part of the parade.

Have to get a pic in front of Independence Hall on Independence Day.  The amazing things that happened in this building!

After the parade ended,  we headed home and I had to force the kids to take a nap if they wanted to go to fireworks... again.  The big firework show in Philly is by the Philadelphia Art Museum (made popular from the movie 'Rocky').  I didn't have the courage to brave the crowds by myself, there isn't a subway nearby.... it would have been crazy finding parking.  We opted for the Narberth (a township/suburb of Philly) fireworks.  Went with our friends the Roberts and the Clarks.  It was great fun!  Definitely worth it.

Kids played card games waiting for the fireworks to start. (Connor, Bentli, and Ashley)

Memorial Day 2012

Growing up, Memorial Day was always spent at my Grandpa Anderson's grave.  He died when my dad was only 3 yrs old.  My grandma never remarried, I don't know how she did it.  She was an amazing person.  Anyways, my dad's whole family (which is big and wonderful) would met up at the cemetery.  They still do gather there to honor my grandpa, and my grandma now too.  Every Memorial Day, I wish I was there with them.  Its these little things that make me wish we lived closer.

This Memorial Day was different, now we have our own little angel to honor and love on this day.  I wish we didn't.  I wish she was here.  I have faith in Heavenly Father's plan, but it doesn't change the wishing things could have been planned differently.

Since we aren't close enough to go visit Teagan's grave, we decided to release some balloons for her.  We all picked out a balloon for her.  Bentli chose a Princess one, Tate's was spiderman (haha), Jared's was a purple star, and I had the pink heart.  We wrote some notes to Teagan, the kids drew pictures on theirs and we sent them up to heaven.  We sat and watched them race up to heaven, I'm convinced that mine won!

That afternoon we had a barbeque with our neighborhood friends.  It was lots of fun to sit and chat with each other as we melted in the heat.

Lukas, Tatum, Stockton, and Cole

Bradys, Troy, Sherrie, and Caroline. 

Michelle Jolley and Sara Horne

Shawna Murphy, Alisha and Brad Packer

As we were finishing cleaning up, Ben started a water fight with the kids.  It was hilarious.  This is a pretty good sequence, I was distracting the kids with the camera and Ben surprised them from behind.

Easter Sunday

Easter Eggs

Easter is wonderful. It is a wonderful combination of relaxed low key celebration with profound, deep meaning behind it. Here is a quick recap of how we spent Saturday:

Started out with a pot-luck breakfast at the Johnson's, followed by an Easter egg hunt.

We spent the afternoon at the Franklin Institute, an amazing kids' science museum. It one of the kids' favorite things to do (family pass is totally worth the cost). That evening we dyed Easter eggs with the Clarks and Camerons.
Beautiful, right?! I love seeing a full cartoon of dyed eggs, its almost hard to eat them because they are so pretty :)