{Independence Day}

Independence Day is my favorite holiday.  A day to spend with family doing whatever we want because we are free to make those decisions.  Freedom and family - two incredibly important aspects of our happiness. 

This year was particularly fun as we got to spend the holiday in Utah participating in some of my very favorite traditions.  

We started the day with the Old Glory Days parade in Riverdale.  

The boys were a little embarrassed by my excessive levels of cheering for each of the floats, but someday they will realize that's how to get all the candy! 

We spent the day relaxing inside (it was a very hot 4th).  That night we went to a BBQ at Grant & Marie's with the whole family.  Mike's parents were in town, so they came up from Midvale with Dan.  Landon and Emilie also joined in, as well as Aunt Leota and Uncle Bob.  It was one of the funnest summertime cookouts with delicious food and great company! 

Grant was the grill master - and his 'Back-to-back World War Champs' t-shirt was the best.  He hates this picture but it was the one I got, so I had to share! 

The kids beat the heat by playing in a pool...

Nothing beats being a kid! 

Uncle Bob & Aunt Leota

Brothers Mike & Dan 

Mom & Leota enjoying some delicious dinner!

Jim & Uncle Bob

The wonderful parents of mine!

Cute Emilie & Landon

Sisters make the best friends!

Mom & I

Landon and Emilie visiting with Marianne

Sweet Grace enjoying her patriotic cupcake

Marie & Isaac

Erik & Grace

Grandma loves to read to the grandkids!

Also, Dan brought a game that everyone enjoyed - it was called "Mirror Images."  Everyone had to put these ridiculous glasses on that made you see everything in reverse - then complete tasks like a maze or writing your name.  Some were better than others, it was hilarious to watch everyone! 

After the games and food we all gathered at Hillfield Elementary in Clearfield to watch a firework show.  Yep, we know how to party!  Happy 4th everyone!

{A Baby Shower}

Last Saturday my wonderful sisters and mother put together a fabulous baby shower in honor of little Calvin Michael.  

Julie made adorable invitations with a construction theme - "There is a baby boy under construction for Marissa & Mike Reynolds...  Dump everything and join us at a baby shower" 

All my sisters made yummy treats and spent a lot of time getting everything ready for the shower.  It was such a sweet gesture and turned out to be awesome.  

My nieces were also such a great help in opening the gifts and holding up all the presents for everyone to see.  They are such happy and sweet little girls.

I wanted to display some of the gifts that have been sent from others who weren't able to make it to the shower, so I hung this little banner of cute outfits from some Hawaii & Arizona friends!

My in-laws were very sweet and supportive to come to Utah for this event...  Mama M bought a delicious white raspberry truffle cheesecake that was the centerpiece of the desserts and EVERYONE loved it.

Three expecting cousins!  Andrea (left) is due any day now, we were surprised she even made it to my shower.  Jenny is due in August and then little Cal will be here in September!  Fun that he will have some cousins his own age to play with!

Wonderful cousins Liz, Bonnie, Kylie & Mailie.  

Peggy, Jana, Aunt Bonnie & Aunt Carole

My adorable little helpers Molly & Grace!  Love these little ones so much.  

I felt very blessed and Calvin received lots of sweet little outfits, blankets, and toys that are a HUGE boost to our non-existent baby supplies.  I suppose we will get started on that as soon as we are in our new house.  

Life is good! 

{A four state adventure}

It has been a busy couple of weeks for our little family!  Mike  finished his recruiting school for the Air Force, which was a six week course in San Antonio, Texas.  Shortly after he graduated Mike found out that he made rank - next year he will promote to Tech Sergeant!  So proud of him and all his hard work.  Look how handsome he looks in his blues - 

We are very excited to start our new adventure in Henderson, Nevada!  I am not sure how I feel about living in the desert yet... but I am sure after this record hot summer I will have some opinions. :S

Mike came up to Utah and we spent a day with Dan and Krystal going on a fun date to the aquarium - we love spending time with those guys!  We were excited to hear the gender reveal of their baby and we were happy pregnant women eating delicious food at a Mongolian buffet.

After our super date we headed out of town to start house hunting in Henderson.  Nate, our realtor, has been so awesome and even let us stay in his house while we were looking!  We found the perfect little home and are just waiting for the bank to finish up the funding  - hopefully we will be able to move in this July!

While we were in Vegas we stayed in our timeshare for some of the time and had a nice get away.  I have wanted to see a Cirque du Soliel show and we went to one called "Mystere."  It was ... strange.  I still don't know how I feel about it.  A little frightening. 

After the house hunting and mini vacation in Vegas we drove to Arizona to catch up with friends down there.  We spent some time with Justin & Elissa.  It was Justin's birthday so he was gracious enough to allow us to mooch off several free food offers he had found - we drove from restaurant to restaurant and ate ourselves into a food induced coma.  Oh, and we also walked around the new Gilbert Temple, it was fun to see! 

We visited one of Mike's buddies from college (John) and his girlfriend Julie and little girl Paige.  We got some lunch at a delicious little restaurant called "Cornish Pasty" and got our butts kicked at Bananagrams.

We also got to spend some time with the awesome Pinedo family!  Mario had a sweet set-up with two TVs so we could watch multiple world cup games at one time.  We stayed a few nights at their house and road tripped to see the Grand Canyon and Bearizona with them  as well.  It was fun to catch up with them and meet little Milo for the first time!

During this lunch at Rainforest Cafe Milo got a taste of his first lemon...  He was not super excited about it.

Little Max charmed this goat by playing his flute for him, he loved seeing all the animals in Bearizona!

Last but not least we found this town called Perkinsville in AZ.  Mike says its another sign that we should retire in the Grand Canyon State... every time we visit I get a sales pitch on the perks of being Arizonian.  You can take a girl out of Utah but you can't take the Utah out of a girl!  :D  

It has been a great trip and tomorrow we will arrive back in Utah to visit more family and friends.  Glad to have my husband back and looking forward to starting the next chapter of our lives together!