The best 4th ever!

Our 4th of July was quite possibly the best ever. It started off with Robyn and I heading to Kiwanis Park in Provo for a 5k.

Robyn and I in the pre-dawn, waiting for the race to start.

The race was chip-timed, which usually means that you're only timed on the amount of time it takes you from crossing the starting line to the finish line... However there was no start mat, there was just a finish mat. So all the chips did was automate the gun time. Kinda crazy.

Okay, Robyn really didn't want me to take this pic, let alone post it, but I just had to. I've been a "runner" for a couple of years now, having run my first 5k clear back in 2002, but really getting consistent with it in 2005. Robyn just started running a couple of months ago, and has been plagued with one injury after another. Fortunately none of them have been serious. However, I was so proud of her for sticking with it through all these tough times and ending up running this 5k with me that I had to document it. So this picture is because of my awesome wife, sticking to it and running an awesome first race!

After the 5k, we went back to Ingrid's house to shower and change and then headed over to the Provo July 4th parade. The parade was tons of fun, and really long. It had everything a July 4th parade should have, including...

fancy cars...

Horses (Which are Haley's favorite!)

Marching bands...

And floats, with Shrek!

The floats with the city royalties on them were so decked out, and the girls with their tiaras had Haley and Emmy convinced they were princesses, so Emmy insisted that I take a picture of each one.
This stroller was all decked out, I thought it was pretty cool.

Governor Huntsman was there too. Except for his backing John McCain for President, I kinda like him, as do most Utahns. He's one of the most popular governors in the nation.The reason we celebrate Independence Day is because of people like these. People who are willing to put their lives on the line and sacrifice all for the good of so many. People they don't even know. I realize this is somewhat of a romanticized view of the military and who they are and why they do what they do, but sometimes I like my rose-colored glasses.This picture seemed especially poignant to me. This particular soldier's family was right near us and as he went by in the parade, they called out to him. He came over and lifted up his little girl. It made me all the more grateful that there are men and women like this that are willing to leave their families to go and protect me and mine, so that I can be with them. This man is my hero, whoever he is.

There were also a lot of awesomely cool parade watchers... like...

Bridget, Haley, and Emmy...

Ingrid, Joey, Jacque, Dad, Cache and Ginger...

and the beautiful Shannon Rae...
We always see cousins at the parade that we don't otherwise see very often, although we are avid readers of each other's blogs...

Suzi Kelly, Spencer and Alison Box
The parade was a little much for our baby boy that didn't sleep much the night before. He's adorable even when he's napping on the sidewalk.

After the parade, the tradition is to head back to Ingrid's to have some watermelon and catch up with cousins and friends and family we don't always see. It's almost a mini-family reunion at times.

Here's an adorable picture of a couple of newlyweds.

Emmy with a piece of watermelon
Someone thought that me with a piece of watermelon was picture-worthy...

Dad thought it would be cool to get a picture of him with all of his grandsons. Unfortunately, his grandsons didn't share his enthusiasm for the idea... This was the best one of the bunch.

Here's Sean taking pictures for his blog.

After the watermelon bash, we decided to start a new tradition for our family that I read about on Doug and Angie's blog and went to Brick Oven for lunch. Tasty!

Waiting to be seated... a rare occurrence at Brick Oven.

After lunch, we came home to rest and get ready to go to the Real Salt Lake soccer game, for which I had won tickets on the radio the day before.

Luke waiting for the game to start

The noise was a little much for Luke until he got used to it...

But once he did, he decided popcorn was a nice distraction from the game.

However, he did not like the booms of the fireworks after the game.

Some folks prefer to sit around on their holidays... to take it easy when they don't need to be at work. For me, Independence Day is different. I love to be out doing things, enjoying the freedoms afforded me as a citizen of one of the united States. This country just rocks, and I love celebrating it!