The Nielsen Family: The fourth of July!

I have to say that having the 4th of July on a Sunday in Utah is the way to go. It means you have the whole weekend and Monday to celebrate, and we did. Friday night we just did our own thing as a little family. Seth was recovering from his latest cold/fever episode. On Saturday we journeyed to Provo and did a family dinner at Brick Oven, because Chelsea had to work all night. Then we watched the Stadium of Fire fireworks. The kids loved it. Seth clapped after every firework. On Sunday after church we had a bbq with all the family and special guests, Chad's parents. After eating, we played a big game of cutthroat croquet. We love the croquet. We pretty much have to buy a new set every year because we play long and we play hard. We call my mom the black widow because of her croquet skills. This match came down to her and Rob with Rob claiming the victory. That night we did fireworks for the kids.

Here are Seth and Ella patiently awaiting the fireworks. Truth be told I think they were more excited about their new chairs and the fact that they had cup holders in them. Ella insisted that she get her cup before we could proceed with the fireworks.

Auntie Rachel was our firework master this year and Ella was her special assistant. Rachel asked for a volunteer to help and we all raised our hands knowing full well who would be chosen. Just once I would like to at least be considered.

The big show. We all agreed that "purple rain" was favorite.

Can't you see the enjoyment on their faces. Rob, not pictured, believes that fireworks are a waste. He thought we should just light some money on fire in the middle of the road and watch that burn. You know what they say "Every party needs a pooper!"

Ella doing her duty as special helper. Ella would run out in the road and set the firework where she wanted it. Then Ella would run back to her seat and Rach would light it. At one point Ella forgot to run back to her seat and the firework started. She panicked and couldn't decided which direction to run. She was a deer in the firework. Eventually she figured out how to safely run around it and make it back to her seat. She certainly never forgot when it was time to run back after that encounter.

We were all laughing because Ella and Seth were so obsessed with their cup holders. It was like they couldn't rest unless their cup holder contained a cup. As you can see from the pink cup in Seth's cupholder. Seth didn't have his cup outside. Everytime Ella would run in the road for her "duties" Seth would steal her cup and place it securely in his cup holder. Of course Ella would return and after a few minutes realize that her cup holder was empty and steal it back. I did eventually go in and get his cup to satisfy the needs of each cup holder and their respective child.

The sparklers we got this year were terrible. I bought the extra long ones by Black Cat hoping they would last longer and that the flame would be farther away from their hands. They didn't even sparkle. They just burned like flares and not only that but they were extremely smoky and stinky. Seth insisted on flailing his around in the air even with Rob helping him. A spark flew off of it and landed on his head. Seth started screaming and Rob grabbed the sparkler from him and started patting his hair. I took him inside and got his hair all wet but we could smell the stink of burning hair for the rest of the night. Luckily he wasn't burned at all. Just a bit of his hair singed off and it was probably uncomfortable and hot for him. The next day Seth kept randomly saying "Fi works, hair, hot!" and patting his head. Poor little guy.

Here's Ella realizing that the sparklers are awful and there is smoke in her eyes.

Early the next morning we went to the Provo City Parade. Ella was really excited to go this year. She enjoyed it last year so I guess she remembered and us psyching her up for it probably contributed as well.

Here's my sweet little parade watching boy. Seth did really well. Maybe the cotton candy and red vines had something to do with it? He liked all the balloons and floats but the cannons and guns kind of freaked him out.

Ella didn't realize that there were beauty queens riding on the floats. She loved waving to the "princesses" as she called them.

Once Ella discovered that kids were allowed to stand in the road and high five the people in the parade it opened up a whole world of fun. Here she is fiving the Elders,

and fiving the pioneers,

and attempting to high five the llamas. It wouldn't be a Provo parade without the llamas. Seth especially liked the llamas.

The balloons were cute but we were positioned right near a power line so they always had to pull the balloons down as they went by us. We never got to see them in all their glory. Oh well, how much glory can Curious George have anyway?

Ella finally coaxed Seth into the high five crowd. He didn't last long though, he didn't understand that you can't go all the way into the street and Daddy had to rescue him.

Ella told me later that the giant piggy bank was her favorite, after the princesses of course.

She loved being down below where the pricesses could actually see her.

After the parade and a six block trek to the car we drove to Grandma Betty's for the traditional luncheon and pool party. Ella loves this part because she adores ham. Rob and I both don't care for it so we never eat it at home. She only gets to have it at Easter and the 4th of July and occasionally here and there. There were a lot of children at the party and it was very reminiscent of when I was little and would come to grandma's house on the 4th, except that we are the parents now. The second the kids finish eating they head for the pool. Ella was begging me to go in before she had even finished half her food. But anyone who knows Ella knows that she only ever eats half her food anyway.

Seth came in the pool with me for a few minutes before he spotted all the balls on the patio.

Daddy had to assist with dribbling. Seth will dribble for a solid hour. He does it in the kitchen while I am cooking dinner.

Finally Grandpa finished eating and joined the fun. It is so nice that Ella can swim on her own with her special float suit. She is really into swimming this summer. She can't wait to start swimming lessons this week. I only took pictures of one end of the pool because that's the kiddie section. On the other side all the older kids were doing flips off the diving board and splashing everyone.