Fourth of July

The hubby and I spent this years Independence Day hanging out with our families in Idaho Falls. Even though we only live a half hour away, it was great to get to see them and spend the entire day lounging around, trying to stay cool, and spending time with our younger siblings.

Henry is my younger brother and is also autistic. There are only a few things in this world that really get him going and they are; his little best friend Oliver the dog, dance parties, running through the sprinklers, and apparently fireworks. 

This little guy was so stoked to see the fireworks but was perfectly content running through the sprinklers and putting on a show for Mitch and I. 

He pranced. He danced. He even karate-chop-action'd the spraying water; all the while my husband and I sat laughing hysterically and snorting up lemonade. 

The poor thing must have really been working it because he fell asleep before the fireworks even started. Thankfully my parents let him play with some sparklers or else it would have been a day wasted. 

We also spent time with Mitch's family, who I swear doubles in size every time there is a family gathering! I didn't even try to remember everyone's names. We had a delicious barbecue and played a game of very hot, very long family volleyball (which totally sucked in long pants and a layered top, I might add). 

After that was all said and done, Mitch and I took his younger siblings to the craft store where I bought my very first sewing machine! I have wanted to purchase one for quite some time after I tried to hand sew a Christmas gift last year. Let's just say this year the Christmas gift will actually get finished. 

Anywho, I bought a Traditional Singer sewing machine and got a smokin' deal at the Independence Day sale at Joanne's! I of course had to keep saving! So I also bought a sewing kit, some yarn... lots of yarn actually, and new K,L, and N crochet hooks. The best part of that was I had 3 men with me to carry all of my stuff! 

I say a day well spent. 

Oh, and we got to watch the biggest firework show in South-East Idaho. 

Frank Vandersloot, the man whose name is known throughout Eastern Idaho, footed the bill for 17,000+ fireworks. Now my sweetheart and I were not foolish enough to go sit at the Snake River and watch from there. Not when we can climb on roofs and jump on trampolines! We say "Heck no!" to waiting in 2 hours of standstill traffic. 

We sat on his parents roof, and waited. 10:00 passed... 10:30... and so on until we heard the news:

"A drowning in the Snake River cast a pall over a Fourth of July fireworks celebration in Eastern Idaho. Eyewitnesses said they saw a man jump into the Snake River... in Idaho Falls at about 9:30 p.m. ...[R]escue crews were called to the scene a short time later when the man couldn't be found. The fireworks display, part of the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration, was pushed back to 11 p.m. but the show finally got underway close to midnight. Eventually, the body was recovered from the Snake River at 1 a.m. July 5. The victim was identified as 27-year-old Lloyd Westbrook of Idaho Falls."

At the time, the only information that was released was that a teenager had fallen into the river and that the Rescue Team was doing everything they could to locate him or her. It was heart-wrenching to hear about. The fireworks show ended up being postponed for two hours to try and save this man's life. I was not at all upset about having to wait; we all sat around the radio on the edge of our seats waiting for the next update, however some people had the audacity to call in and post on Facebook to complain that they had to wait for two hours to see the show. I really hope that their foots aren't too far shoved down their throats once they realize the seriousness of the situation. 

My condolences go out to this young man's family and to the other people who were injured this Fourth of July. The show started finally, but there was no word on what happened to the man that fell in until this morning. Sadly, we all snapped back into festive mode the minute the fireworks started going off. 

We sat on my in-laws roof and were surrounded by fireworks. We literally had a panoramic view of vibrant greens, reds, purples, whites, blues, and oranges on the little farm house roof. It was beautiful, it was patriotic, and it was fun. My brothers-in-law danced on the roof to the music the fireworks were choreographed to while my little sister-in-law attached herself to my hand for fear of sliding down the roof top. 

My wonderful husband and I got to sit and enjoy as the night came to a close. My husband is incredibly patriotic. He is in the National Guard and would do absolutely anything to say that he had performed his duties to the best of his ability. Before we started seriously dating he was planning on VOLUNTEERING to go to Iraq! Thankfully another commitment in the form of one awkward young lady presented itself before any papers were in. 

I call him crazy, but to see him reverently observe the spectacle around us made me so proud to call myself his wife. 

I hope everyone had a SAFE, enjoyable Fourth of July.