Happy 3rd / 4th of July!

Little fun fact, here in Logan, we have our firework show on July 3rd of every year. I'm not sure if it's so people can sleep in on the 4th, thus preventing crankiness accompanied by the 5th or if it's because almost EVERYONE spends the 4th in the bigger cities or outdoors somewhere.

We set up the tent indoors, a little pre-camp attempt. While we waited for the fireworks to happen we watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Naturally, we all wanted something sweet. We raided the freezer and found some ice cream. 

To help keep Heidi Anne awake for the fireworks, Char and her played with some snap poppers, (thanks to a raid in the garage) and made a glow in the dark necklace for her. When they started to play with the poppers, Char threw one a little to close to her. He then got a lecture from her telling him that wasn't nice. He said sorry to her.

                            Somehow she started "accidentally" throwing them back at him. It was on.

                                             She would try to be sneaky about throwing them.

                                 First, she would innocently get a handful.

                                    Next, She walked away from us

                           Then turn around and try to throw them at his shoes. 

Don't Mind Me - I'm Just Acting Innocent and Casual.....

All of the sugar, excitement, and glow in the dark necklace did the trick.She was fully alert and ready to enjoy the firework show. Which we watched from our bedroom window, (we have a wonderful view of the arena from that room). We must have found a perfect balance because she was ready to go to sleep as soon as the grand finale finished.  

On the morning of the 4th, Heidi Anne and I had a great surprise, Char didn't have work or school! We got him for the whole day, that hasn't happened in 2 months! She didn't care what we did, as long as we were all together. He made a pancake breakfast for us. Then we went to a park (at 9 AM). Going outside on the 4th in Logan was like being in a ghost town. We didn't see a single person (no joggers, people with their dogs in the yard, hardly any traffic). We had the park to ourselves and I was feeling pretty good - so we all played. 

While we were all on the swings, Heidi Anne and I were swinging perfectly together. Recalling my elementary school days I told Heidi Anne "Sunshine, look! We're married!" She promptly said "We're not married, silly Mommy! You're married to Daddad! And that's not how getting married works." Char asked her "How should it work?" She rolled her eyes, you could see her thinking "Silly parents, do I have to explain everything to them." She rolled her eyes, sighed, and said "First, you have to grow taller, fall in love, kiss, and then one day both of you say "I Do" and Kiss some more. Then you are married. After that you have kids."

It was getting hot and we had some old gift cards for Coldstone, which we used to get "Special Ice Cream", which means we went to Coldstone and everyone got their own ice cream. Heidi Anne got Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream with Kit-Kat bits. She was in high heaven! 

Char got his favorite, Oreo Shake, and I got peanut butter ice cream with Reese's peanut butter cups. I have a friend who works there, however, when I've tried to drop by, it's her day off. She was working on the 4th, so I got to catch up a little with her.  

We came back home and played in the tent with Heidi Anne, worked on homework (do we know how to live it up or what?). 

Not  the precious moment described below - But still adorable!

Then Heidi Anne just wanted Daddad and Daddy cuddles. She was content to just be held by her Daddy. She fell asleep early, we tried to move her, but in her deep sleep she said "Daddy..."with a sleepy smile on her face, in the sweetest, most loving voice you can imagine. Once you hear something like that, you just want to hold your baby a little longer, because you know she won't always be this little. Some moments can't be captured with a camera, they can only be retained by your heart. That was one of those moments.