3rd year,Check

Jason is officially done with his 3rd year of Medical School.

He has worked so hard and we just want him to know how much we love him and appreciate all of his hard work.

4th of July Festivities

I love the 4th of July, it is a time to reflect upon and remember what this country is all about and all the freedom and sacrifice that comes with it. My favorite part is the parade and specifically when the veterans and the flag pass by...for the past few years it has brought tears and a great appreciation that I live in this great land.

This was our first 4th of July in Iowa away from family, it was kind of strange but we found some fun things to do...


Friday night we did some snakes and sparklers for the kids. Olivia loved them and couldn't stop jumping up and down yelling. After we rolled out the sugar cookie dough and made star cookies for our neighbors. I let the girls just go at it... I gave them dough and a cookie cutter and they did a lot better then I thought. When the night was over my sweet Savannah said, "that was the funnest night!"...
We may just have to make that a new tradition.


Saturday morning we got up and got ready for our big day ahead of us. We went and set our chairs up 3 hours before the parade (Waukee City) hoping we could even find a place....well we had a choice of anywhere we wanted to sit along the parade route. I was just laughing because in Utah if you don't set up 2 days in advance you don't get a spot.


We packed a picnic and took it to the parade while we waited for it to start. The girls loved it and we had a good spot there where no kids around us so the candy that was thrown to us was ours and we didn't have to fight for it. Below are a few highlights from the parade.





The best float in the Parade...probably because it was the only float. :)


Our favorite! I think it speaks for itself.


CANDY!
The only thing that matters to the kids.

After the parade...


we frosted the cookies...

did more Sparklers, snakes and snaps...

We went to the West Des Moines fireworks at the Raccoon River park...did some sparklers while we waited

and watched the beautiful fireworks...

light up the sky.

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday celebrating this great Country like we did.