July 4th, 2011

After plenty of discussion we decided to go to the Provo 4th of July Parade.

The most recent Parades I've been to are the yearly BYU Homecoming parade, and a few years back the Billings Montana St. Patricks Day parade. If you have been to either of these you will know they arn't exactly "packed" events.

I heard that the Freedom Festival Parade was huge, crazy, hot, not worth it, etc. But since the group I was talking with were notorious and self proclaimed Parade haters, I thought perhaps they were exaggerating a bit.

They were not.

Alex was thrilled when she stepped outside and found a flag on the lawn. She ran up and hugged it for 5 minutes while Tyler was yelling for me to grab the camera.

We made it to the parade though, somehow. After driving the parade route and discovering there was no parking for miles around we found a spot and hoofed it a mile or so until we found a spot. Alex, Heidi and I ended up squeezing through the crowd and sharing a blanket with a family who generously let us encroach on their space. Tyler had to stand back 10 feet behind us and everyone else in the state of Utah. It was beyond packed, I can't even describe it. Alex liked seeing all the Princesses (high school royalty I'm guessing? I honestly didn't read the float descriptions), Heidi liked the marching bands, and my favorite part was seeing Tyler's grandpa riding atop a restored tank with a big smile on his face.

I kept up the tradition (now in it's second year) of making the girls matching 4th of July outfits. Unfortunately I didn't get a pre-parade pictures, and afterwards they were sweating and filthy.

It was about 1000 degrees and with all those ruffles Heidi was on the verge of heat exhaustion by 10am.

After the Parade and a brief stop over at Grandma Jakes to water the garden and run in the grass, the family got together for a BBQ. Tyler's Aunt and Uncle have goats AND a swing set/fort, making their house the pick for afternoon fun.

Heidi loved the goats.

Uncle Ben taught Alex how to start and finish a water fight. Yet the only person she could really soak was herself. Out of 20 or so people the usual 5 got soaked, with Kara of course taking the cake and getting drenched by Ben in the end.

Heidi enjoyed the freedom of roaming around a grassy, fenced in back yard, full of food, animals and family, without Mom following her around and saying "No" to everything she did.

After an late afternoon nap we gathered together once more for fireworks courtesy of Grandpa Brady.

5 years ago I was the kid who always had a box of firecrackers in my closet, just in case the opportunity arose to do something fun. Now I'm the lady who is glad husbands and brother and sister in laws are around to put on a show while I cower with my children in the driveway, imagining them stabbing each other with sparklers or having their hair caught on fire by a rogue projectile.

Even looking at the picture, I can't believe I let Alex hold a lit stick that shot sparks in every direction.

Archie seemed to have it under control though.

I think Ben was tired of me taking pictures.

There was plenty of noise, but I think the girls really enjoyed the little show.

Some neighbor kids even came to join the fun.

Our show was cut short by a sudden rainstorm, but it was getting late anyway.

It was another wonderful holiday spent appreciating family and the freedoms we enjoy that so many brave men and women have fought and died for.

Balloon Fest Extravaganza

Because I am completely unable to pick only a few pictures, when there are many to choose from, I have to split the 4th of July fun into categories.

Saturday July 2nd, we got up early and went to the balloon festival

Although you might not guess it from this picture, there were actually balloons there. Somehow we managed to get our only holiday family picture, without anything exciting in it.

Here is us last year, Heidi a tiny 2 months old, sleeping through the whole thing. Alex with super short hair, and me sans the bangs. Tyler is still amazing, no change there.

Another flash from the past. July 2nd, 2010.

Grandpa and Grandma Brady decided to meet us there which was great. They must think I only invite them to fun places so they can watch my kids while I run around taking pictures. I promise that it is actually for their company that we like them to come along.

Although there was plenty to take pictures of.

We ended up having most of the Brady clan there. Kate's Mom was even in town to see little Annie (hidden under pink blanket strapped to Kate), and we got to have a lot of fun with her as well. I think everyone had a good time.

As long as the Grandparents come along, the adults still outnumber the kids 6-4, leaving someone with hands to be photographer and another as a fresh alternate for carrying lazy children.

Heidi was a lot more photogenic this year, and seemed to enjoy the balloons. She kept pointing and grabbing at them while making demanding grunts at Tyler, as if telling him to pluck one from the sky because she would sure like to hold it.

Last year it was too windy for the balloons to fly, but this year we got to see them all go up!

Although we were all dead by noon, it was worth getting up so early. A tradition I hope to continue as long as we are in Provo.

Last year we tried to go out to breakfast, but apparently everyone else had the same idea and when we saw the line at IHOP, mixed with a newborn blowout diaper, we turned around and went home.

This year we all chipped in something good and went back to the Grandparents house for a homemade meal. The best part was not worrying about the children's behavior while we ate.

Before we left the field we found exactly how quick a learner Archie is. After watching all the balloons, he somehow figured out the trick to it. We were all surprised when he started floating away! It took a few minutes but he soon figured out the decent. Once his feet touched ground he swore off all solo flights until at least 8 years old.

Late June ketchup

Father's Day weekend the Brady Family Holiday Curse, caught up to us once again and we spent the better part of 4 days sick at home. This was a double whammy because I had spent a huge chunk of Saturday laboring over a 5 layer ice cream cake that stood about a foot tall when I was done with it. It was my Father's Day gift to all the men, but by the time Tyler got better it was all gone. I didn't even snag a good picture.

I thought the 24 hour flu was terrible, but after Alex threw up almost nonstop for 3 days straight, I was the frantic mom at the E.R. begging them to do anything to fix my daughter. This got us (as well as strange looks) a prescription of nausea medicine that allowed Alex to do a little more sleeping, and lot more drinking. By day 6 she was actually giggling, walking and picking on Heidi again.

I take back every frustrated thought I had about having a non napping over-active 3 year old. It is much more enjoyable than watching your little zombie lay on the couch for hours and communicate with squeaks and grunts. Somehow Heidi and I missed the sickness (Thank goodness) but unfortunately it jumped the neighborhood gap. Despite our best efforts and self inflicted quarantine, it hit the other Brady's on Kate's due date.

The details aren't mine to share, but despite being sick, Kate delivered a beautiful baby girl on Thursday morning and we are all in love. Alex can't get enough and turns into a dancing, skipping, squealing little ball of joy every time she sees her. Poor Annie's toes get mauled every time we are near, because that's the only thing Alex is allowed to touch. Heidi hasn't seen her do much more than sleep, so I'm not sure she realizes that Annie is more than a doll, just a much better guarded doll than the rest.

Tyler has started school again, and we have played in the sprinklers everyday. Michael and Danielle just moved into their fantastic townhouse (we are very jealous, their front yard is the coolest splash pad type park you have ever seen, and the library is a stones throw away to the right. A grocery store is a stone throw to the left and yet somehow they don't seem like they live in the middle of the city). To bad they live in Highland or we would be there everyday.

Life is going well, we are setting goals and actually sticking to them! Stephen returns home from his mission in Brazil in 2 weeks and Tyler is starting to fill out P.A. school applications. Alex is begging to be put in dance lessons and still loves to read. Heidi's mouth has exploded and she now has 7 teeth that she loves to bite me with, and only me it seems. Her hair is growing and she will actually wear bows!!!!! Could life get any better?

R.I.P naptime

For the past 3 years I've been spoiled and usually, at least once a day, I get a break from my kids and have a solid hour of me time.

Alex has been growing up, and while I thought I could make her nap until she was at least 10 years old, it appears that at 3, those glorious days are over.

I came to this realization on Tuesday night.

That afternoon we had fought tooth and nail over naptime. I tried all my tricks to no avail and in the end all that happened was that Heidi woke up an hour earlier than I wanted because Alex couldn't help climbing in the crib to play with the sleeping child. Instead of my regular zen hour I wound up more frustrated after nap time than if I had skipped it in the first place.

That night after a standard 7:30 pm bedtime, I settled down to relax and enjoy the silence of evening. After about 45 minutes I heard the bathroom sink running and went to investigate. Alex had what appeared to be poop, smeared all over her hands, arms and the sink. Fortunately I was having one of my more serene days and calmly asked her what was going on.

Her reply " Heidi had a graham cracker in her crib, so I climbed and got it and then put the water cup on it and smashed it all together. Then my hands were dirty so I had to wash them."

I was so glad it was not poop that I cheerfully helped her clean up and sent her back to bed.

10 minutes later I found her raiding the book shelf in the living room.

20 minutes later she was at it again.

20 minutes later I walked into her room to find her happily sitting under her covers with a bag of contraband chips she had somehow gotten from the top shelf in the kitchen.

20 minutes later it was Tyler's turn.

Wednesday after an hour of trying to make the child nap, I gave up and offered her quiet time instead. She happily sat and read books for 45 minutes while I cleaned house, it was wonderful. The best part of the whole thing was by 7pm, she was so exhausted and cranky that a super short bedtime routine and 4 minutes of whining in bed was all it took to knock her out until 7:30am!!! I'll admit from 6:30-7pm seemed like an eternity, but when both girls were quietly asleep by 7:15, I was in heaven.

So thus ends a beautiful era and now we begin something new.

Heidi's been cutting teeth for the last couple of days and it's been less than pleasant. She screams and throws herself around in your arms, then when you put her down she flails and bangs her head on the floor. I numbed her gums, gave her tylenol and yet she proceeded to scream in her crib right through morning nap. My blood pressure was through the roof by lunch time, but after a frustrated outburst, when Alex asked "could you please be nice mommy?" I put myself in time out and took a few deep breaths. Now I remember why people hate teething so much.

A week with Grandma

Last week my mother came to visit.

It was so much fun to spend the week with her, and watching the girls with their grandmother. Heidi hadn't seen her in 6 months but it only took about 2 minutes for her to warm up and jump into her arms.

We did lots of playing and talking and laughing. We made lots of fun plans. I was so excited to finally ride the Heber Creeper!

After the train ride Alex said that this was her favorite part. Covering her ears while the train whistle blew.

It was a lot of fun, Both the girls couldn't get enough of Grandma and climbing all over her.

The drive to Heber and back was even great and it was nice to catch up with my Mom.

Wednesday we relaxed, played in the back yard, and ate strawberries.

Thursday we got ambitious and set off with the goal of seeing as many temples as possible! We skipped Provo and went straight to Mount Timpanogos.

I think my favorite part of the day was walking down the sidewalk, Alex wanted to hold Heidi's hand, which left me holding Kelly's. It was pretty cute the 5 of us, everyone holding hands.

Alex brought Kelly (her doll) everywhere we went. It was so cute, watching her walk around all the temples with Kelly thrown over her shoulder or held tight to protect her from the wind.

The goal of the trip was pictures in front of temples, and we did it, although the girls refused to pose as usual.

To get to the Draper temple (my new favorite) we went over the mountain instead of the point and it was a great scenic drive.

Heidi just loved to run lose, exploring all the beautiful landscaping and playing on the stairs.

When I tried to get a picture at each sign, the girls just wanted to play in the dirt and look at the flowers.

When we got to Salt Lake, my Mom spent a few hours at the Geneology Center while the girls and I visited the Museum and spent the whole time in the children's center. If you haven't been you need to go! It is SO much fun. Here Alex is dressed up and learning how to dance a traditional dance. She hung out at that play station for probably 20 minutes dancing the same one over and over.

It was a really great way to spend a day.

By temple number 4 holding still for pictures became a problem.

By temple 5 we were still having fun, but excited to get home.

We had to cut the Bountiful temple off our list, but someday soon we will go get our picture.

What an amazing blessing it is to have so many temples close by. You would think after an entire day in and out of the car we would have some majorly cranky kids, but I think they were able to feel the spirit the surrounds these holy places and it touched their hearts.

Friday we visited Springville Art City Days and went to the kids parade. We went to the kids art festival and then went home and relaxed the rest of the day. It was sad to see Mom leave on Saturday but we had a wonderful week to look back on and remember.

Just some pictures

Last Friday the girls and I went to Temple Square while Tyler attended a P.A. information meeting at the U.

Alex specifically requested a picture in front of this statue.

Sunday I took the time to curl Alex's hair into ringlets. It took forever and used a ton of hairspray, but it was way worth it!

She looked like a little doll at church.

They both did.