HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA #1

Michelle and Sarah kicking butt!
Mom and Sarah!
Kade and Dad
Ummm.... me flying through the air, and Steve laughing at me!
Ty and Patti

Tayia crying because she didn't want to run the races
Go TRACE!
I had to post this picture because almost everyone in this picture is a member of my family! Seriously. Starting from the left- The girl in the pink shirt is a cousin, the older man with the red hat and red shirt is a great uncle, the girl in the red tank is a cousin, the guy in the black tank is a cousin, sarah is in the white tank, guy in the red and blue shirts are cousins, guy in the navy shirt is married to one of my cousins, and the guy on the far right is a cousin! crazy!

Kya and Tay, they were best buddies!
Kaden and cousins doing the grease pole

Kya and Daddy!
What frowny faces! Like father, like son. Now we all know where Trace gets his good looks!

The Fam
Telling Trace how to win!

For the Fourth of July this year, we decided it was time to go Salina. This is where I spent my Fourth of July growing up and it was fun to go back and take the kids. We haven't been there since we moved to Blanding. We love being home for the 4th, but once every five years isn't bad for a change. I took WAY to many pictures, it was really hard for me to decide which ones to post, so I ended up doing a ton! We got up early and went to the foot and sack races. Trace was so excited to run and he did great! Tayia wasn't as pumped about the races, so she sat on my lap and cried. It was fun to see all of my extended family from my mom's side. We were able to see lots and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins that I have not seen in ages. (or at least since the last time we were in salina) Tayia and Kya were two peas in a pod. Kaden participated in the grease pole challenge. (there are wood poles with money and grease all over them. you have to get teams of four together to try to get as much of the money as you can in two minutes. ALOT harder than it looks!) The adults got to have fun doing the sack races. Sarah and I kicked butt in the sister/sister one. Patti and Tyler did great in the husband/wife one, and Sarah and my mom did really good in the mother/daughter race. (don't worry, I tried to get Tayia to do this one with me but she wouldn't have anything to do with it!) Tyler and Kaden biffed (okay, that word looks funny! is it even a real word?) it good in the brother/brother one. Steve and I also had a pretty good spill as you can see from the picture of me flying through the air! We even got my dad to do a couple of races! After the races, we went back to the hotel to swim some more, eat lunch, and take some naps. Then it was off to the parade. (I forgot to take my camera though! Can you believe it? Me? forget the camera! AGHHHHH!) Tayia and Trace loved the parade. There were alot of tractors and farm equipment, which was right up Trace's alley. They thought it was pretty neat that they got to run in the road and pick up candy! After the parade it was rodeo time! Salina has a neat outdoor arena and rodeo every year on the 4th. While we were waiting for the rodeo to start Trace was playing in the dirt and got attacked by red ants. He cried so hard that he finally crashed . He slept through the first half of the rodeo, but absolutely loved the rest. When fireworks time rolled around, he had the hugest grin on his face. I wish like crazy I would have had my camera. He was cheesing it the whole time. I think that was seriously the best part of his day. Tayia was really interested in all the rodeo queens and is determined to grow her hair out long and learn to ride so she can become one. In fact, she is making Steve take her to ride tomorrow so she can learn. What an imagination she has. She fell asleep not long before the fireworks and it was all we could do to wake her up. I don't even think she remembers seeing many of the fireworks because she was so tuckered out. We had alot of fun memories that will last a lifetime. Happy Birthday America, and thanks to all those who have fought and are fighting to keep us free! It's because of you that we get to celebrate this special holiday with such joy!