July 4th

Independence Day is always fun, yet exhausting at the same time.  We started the day with the parade in Oakley, which Brian just loved this year.  Even tonight he asked when we were going to go to the parade again.  Why did he love it so much?

Of course it was because of the huge bag of candy he collected.

 I loved seeing all of the cousins together.

I also loved the weather this year. No hot beating sun.  Just a nice cool drizzle of rain for a bit.

 After the parade we headed back to the Ranch for the annual Cannon Family Reunion.  It was so nice to catch up with my Cannon aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives.

 This was our attempt at getting a picture of everyone in the Evans family for my parents.  We missed Ruben just as he drove away to go golfing and Timmy was taking a nap.  Sorry Mom and Dad, but this is the best picture we got while Emily was in town.

 The kids spent the afternoon playing with their cousins.

 They had fun making up random games with the Bocce balls. . .

 . . .going for rides on the six wheeler. . .

. . .and just being silly.

Notice how there was no viewing of fireworks this year?  Well, I personally love fireworks, but our Brian has his own very strong opinions about them.  The new relaxed firework laws in Utah sure made for some rough nights on and around July 4th.  People were doing super loud fireworks late into the night for the whole week, and Brian was woken up by them and completely terrified.  He refused to look at them if I tried to calm him by showing them to him and his little body wouldn't stop shaking until they had all stopped and there was no more booms.  For hours each night I would sit with him is his room with his white noise up full blast, calming music playing, and earplugs and earmuffs on to drown out the noise.  After buying him his own child sized sound protection ear muffs he has felt more in control and not as scared.  He keeps the ear muffs by his bed in case the fireworks come again.  All the waking up and having Mommy come in his room at night has once again messed up his sleeping.  He wakes up all night and calls for me all throughout the night even when there are no fireworks now.  We are working on getting back to sleeping through by himself.  I never thought I would be sad about more fireworks at the 4th of July.