red.white.blue.2008

This year as always we took a few of days to celebrate Independence day. We really know how to celebrate a birthday, especially when it's the birthday of my most favorite country in the world.


We stared off with our annual BBQ and fireworks at my in-laws. It has become quite the event. We used to trek from their house over to Eaglewood Gold course where there fireworks are held. A few years ago we came back to my in-laws dinner club friends hanging out on their front lawn. Apparently the view was great from their own front yard. Ever since then we have stayed put and avoided the mobs of people. The food was great and the fireworks amazing. One of the nicest things is that when we're all done we clean up and sleep over. No fighting the huge traffic jam that always follows. Scott's cousin Erin and her husband Joe were also staying over. They had come up from Arizona to visit Grandma and Grandpa Hilton and were staying with Judy. Erin and Joe have five kids age 5 and under. They are simply amazing. So with our five kids, Erin and Joe's five kids and Lisa's two we had quite a houseful. The best part of the evening for me came after all the kids were in bed and we sat around watching old home movies of Judy's childhood. Scott had spend many late nights putting it all together on a DVD.

The next morning we arose bright and early to head over to our next party. My in-laws ward has a big breakfast at the church every 4th of July. Pancakes, sausage, bacon and fruit. Yum yum. Mariah also had a great time after decorating papa with her glow in the dark bracelets.


We then headed back to Turners to have a lunch with all of Scott's family. A second BBQ is a great way to get rid of left-overs. It was great to visit with family and watch the old home movies together.



We next headed out for Stadium of Fire. My parents watched the two little ones and Scott, Hayley, Jaden, Mariah and I all headed South to Provo. When Scott bought the tickets back in April we ran into a tiny snag. While he was preparing to check-out with seats right where we wanted them he got kicked off. It said that he had ran out of time even though there was still time on the timer. Bummer. So he quickly got back online and scrambled for the best seats he could get. Unfortunately the only seats left were four rows from the top at the opposite side from the stage. I am surprised we didn't get nosebleeds. Before we went into the stadium we first visited the parking lot which was full of sponsors giving away free stuff. We walked away with free hotdogs, drinks, balloons, pens, bracelets and stuffed dogs.

The show was amazing. Glenn Beck did a great job of hosting. The entertainment was awesome. It included men parachuting onto the field, 1,300 "Stadium of Fire" Dancers, Blue Man Group and Miley Cyrus. Even though we couldn't hear very well it was still fun.

They brought in family members of servicemen who are in Iraq to watch the show. There was a huge spot on the field where the dancers had preformed so they got primo seats for the show. They even hooked it up so that three of the men serving could say hello to their families. I don't think their was a dry eye in the stadium.

The best part of the night was the fireworks. Our seats went from being the worst in the house to the best. We had the most amazing view of the fireworks. We got to watch them straight on. We also avoided the ash that fell on everyone else.

When the show ended at 10:45 we still were a long way away from getting home. The longest wait was the 45 minutes we spent trying to leave the parking lot. It gave us a chance to all listen to our Harry Potter books on CD. We arrived home at 12:45 and crawled into bed.

You would think this would be enough celebrating for us. Almost done. Saturday night we got to have a BBQ at my parents house. My Aunt Becky was in town from Seattle so she came to party with us. Her daughters Havala and Sierra also came along with Havala's husband Brigg. We had a great time eating hamburgers and watermelon. Very American.

I am so grateful for this great land in which we live. Happy Birthday America. You're swell.