4th of July

We had a fun filled day. The celebrating started early with dress rehearsals for our stake 4th of July program Thursday night. Followed by 1 show on Friday night and 2 shows Saturday morning. It's a fun tradition. Plus, if you recall that is how Chad and I met when we were 15 years old.

Did I mention I agreed to be over all the 3-5 year olds? This year they walked the cat walk while other kids sang "50 Nifty." Each kid represented a state. The parents were in charge of their kids costume and they all turned out so stinkin' cute.

Alexis represented Pennsylvania. Hershey, Pennsylvania...that is! Yum. I wish we could take the kids there. They'd love it! Here she is strutting her stuff down the cat-walk.
I must say this is the easiest costume I've made to date. A few yards of silver fabric, a $2 wal-mart water tube, a few stitches later and you have this. I did sew a pocket in on one side so she could store Hershey kisses in there to throw out to the audience. A Halloween costume done 4 months early...woo hoo!

The first night I had to tell her she needed to throw the Hershey Kisses UNDER-HAND! She was pelting them out there! But it didn't change. I think she liked seeing how far she could throw it. And how exact. She pelted a few at our families chest! Everyone told us we better sign her up for softball! (That would make her Daddy happy!)

Carter represented California as this years "OP Pro Champion." (In case, you live out of state and are wondering what that is...it's a famous surf competition that takes place right here in HB every year. Hence: "surf city.") Here he is starting the cat walk waving to his fans!

Shacka! Hottest surfer I've ever seen! I just cut a surfboard shape out of stiff poster board and decorated it a little.

He was so over it by the third shows finale. Can you tell in this picture? Before this he was seriously giving me the stink eye when he walked by me. (Do you see the sponsor stickers on the back of his board?)

I had asked the directors if Alexis could try singing with the 6-11 year olds. I knew she could do it. They said she could do it as long as she still represented a state with the 3-5 year old's. She even had a little duet.

The only hard part about her doing both was we literally had 20 seconds on stage left to change her out of her Hershey Kiss costume into her blue jeans and t-shirt. She was so excited to be with the older kids she didn't even mind the rush. Alexis is in the front row. She's in the middle always doing the actions full out. She's especially exaggerated on the "I can't hold" part:

Alexis and her new friend, Sabrina. She's pretty small for her age and Alexis asked me how she got to be 7 so fast! This is after the 2nd finale. Notice the pink ribbon around her waste. So like Alexis to sneak some accessory in her snack bag and tie it on right before going on stage.


After the show we went to Chad's Aunt's house in Long Beach. Everyone on their street pitches in 20 bucks and rents bounce houses, water slides, a cotton candy machine and a snow cone machine. The kids loved it. Especially, since we said YES to everything cuz it was free!

Then, we were off to my parents to BBQ and swim. I always forget to get a picture because I'm in the pool.

Lastly, a quick change at home into warm clothes and we walked to the beach to watch the fireworks. Alexis and Carter liked them...but opted to crawl back in the stroller to watch. This is mid "Whoa" during the firework show.

We are pooped! But, guess what? We are practically GONE all month starting tomorrow. First, camping at the beach and then a few days in Big Bear. Can't wait!