Four for the FOURTH!

This Fourth of July week was PACKED with craziness and fun! Seriously, is this summer EVER going to slow down? Here are the FOUR top adventures of our Fourth of July Week!

4- Tucson Trip Highlights!
This was our second year of traveling to Tucson and staying at the El Conquistador Resort for Steve's leadership conference. Last year, our family got to stay in one of the property's casitas which felt like a little home away from home with mini kitchen, living and dining and separate master suite. We were hoping to luck out again this year, but no dice! No worries though, the room we got was plenty nice and cozy and we didn't spend much time indoors anyway! While Steve was inside "conferencing" we played out by the pools with the Frei girls and swam our little hearts out! When we weren't swimming we were shopping. Last year we ventured to the Tucson zoo. This year, it was all about relaxing! We frequented the mall (which was an awesome indoor outlet mall) and the McDonald's (so I could hook up to their Wi Fi to do my online class assignments-the hotel charged for this service, bummer)! Anyway, it was nothing but super fun. I was kind of lazy with the camera, but here are the things I want to remember from this trip:



3- Getting Crazy with the Cousins!

Seriously! Does this kid have a mother?
I cannot believe how lax I have been with my fashion rules for the boys this summer. It just gets worse and worse as the days pass. Especially when the cousins are around, I lose my leverage, especially with Conner. I just don't feel like fighting about it. So here's my Conner, slowly working Lightning McQueen shoes (with love, from Grandma) and any other "character" paraphernalia he can get his hands on into his everyday wardrobe pretty much all summer! I usually only allow such items to be worn around the house (preferably in the form of underwear or pajamas) or not at all, but somehow I've let down my guard. Today was the worst of it though. Conner ran around sporting an old Spiderman costume (that is barely holding together by a thread). His cousin Quincy has been staying at our house this weekend and the boys unearthed an old dress up bag that hasn't seen the light of day in a while. Conner bounced around in this costume most of the day with those little red shoes rounding out the ensemble! He could be spotted jumping, spinning, squirting and running like a mad man. At one point, I went outside to check on the kids while we were at Grandma's and I found them sabotaging a poor ant colony with Lysol Tub and Tile Cleaner! Cousin Wyatt was doing the dirty deed but the boys were attentively watching those poor ants suffer. When we got home, the boys drenched themselves with water balloons and squirts from the hose. Apparently, all rules go out the window when A) the weather gets warm and B) the cousins come to town!

2- Second Go Around at the Roadrunners Game!-

What's more American than baseball? How 'bout baseball ON the Fourth of July? Lewis' baseball team had their party on Independence Day. It followed the same pattern as Conner's party, starting off with awards at the coach's house, then off to the game! Lewis got to walk on the field with his bud Peyton and the Roadrunner's center fielder. He looked pretty awesome out there and I bet he loved hearing his name called over the loud speaker! Since this event happened on the Fourth, there were fun events that took place in the middle of each inning. Watermelon eating contest, pie eating contest and water balloon toss just to name a few. Well, of course Steve and Conner didn't want to miss out on the action, so they signed up for the water balloon toss. Conner ended up face planting onto the giant water balloon and it was hysterical! Overall, we decided it was a super relaxing way to spend the Fourth of July evening. With the food, bounce house, cotton candy and a great view of the fireworks, we might have to sign up for this deal next year!

1 1/2- Fireworks!
Of course, Independence Day Weekend wouldn't be complete without a good old fashioned "homemade" firework show at Grandma and Grandpa Bevan's. Steve's family didn't do this much growing up, but my family always bought a box of fireworks and tried out our pyro skills in the driveway. This year, Kirk did the honors, lighting the night sky with fire and screams! We brought cousin Quincy along and his mom warned me that he's 'terrified of fireworks'. He actually ended up being very brave and super cute/entertaining! He kept saying, "I hope that was the last one. . ." And of course, to his dismay, it never was! Finally we went inside for Grandma's famous Independence Day Jello to which Quincy kept saying, "This is sooooo good!" Needless to say, he definitely will be invited back next year! What a cutie!

1- Lewis Gets Baptized!

Definitely, the most AMAZING part of our week was the day Lewis was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had been waiting for this day for so long! He was so calm and cool about it, not at all nervous like I thought he'd be. This picture is worth a thousand words! Those boys are just GLOWING in their white clothes. Lewis told our neighbor that he 'felt so special while [his] dad was giving [him] the blessing'. Indeed, he had the spirit with him and it radiated! We are so proud of our 8 year old boy! Can't believe it's been EIGHT years, but the best of my life so far! Lewis has been an absolute blessing to us! Such a great example to everyone he meets.

We are so proud of you Lewis and love you to pieces!