Fourth of July Recap

Our Fourth this year was VERY busy. A lot of fun, but Sunday I pretty much hibernated for the day to recuperate. (And please excuse the lack of pictures. I forgot my camera everywhere we went. Sigh.)

The day began at 5:30 AM for me . . . as the Activities Chairperson for my ward, I needed to be setting up and getting ready for our annual pancake breakfast that we do each year. We always start it early because it is SO HOT. I think it was only in the 90's when we began at 7:30, and the tables were under shade, so it wasn't too bad.

After everyone chowed down, we played some games and wound the whole thing up around 10 AM with a water balloon launch (that, of course, turned into a water balloon fight). But just being out in the heat, and being "on" for a few hours, getting everything situated, directing games, then getting everything cleaned up and put away, WORE. ME. OUT. Don't get me wrong, we have a fabulous ward and everyone pitched in to help wherever they could. I was certainly not doing things alone! So when all was said and done, I think people enjoyed themselves and it was a fun start to a great day for a lot of people.

Once we got home, I fell into bed and just decompressed. If you have never experienced a HOT climate, take it from me: if you spend a few hours out in the heat, and then come into cool air-conditioning . . . it really messes with your body. At best, you feel a little tired and lazy, at worst, you feel sick to your stomach and can barely move. I was closer to the sick end of the scale. Being pregnant in the Vegas summertime is not for the faint of heart.

Anyhoo, don't worry about me; laying around and relaxing for several hours helped! We then headed over to my nephew's birthday party. He turns five tomorrow, but what better way to celebrate your birthday than with swimming, a BBQ and fireworks? As it got dark a bunch of us migrated over to my mom's house where my baby brother put on yet another epic fireworks display, even more fantastic than last year. This year, M was out helping to light as many fireworks as he could and it was so funny to watch him high-tail it to the sidewalk as soon as a fuse was lit. Of course, I was happy that he was trying to get the heck away as quickly as possible!

What is it with boys and fireworks things that ignite and/or blow up??

By the way, I was a little surprised at X's reaction. He was okay for the first couple of crackly displays, but once the big ones got going, he FREAKED out. Poor baby was shaking and crying and hiding his face in his hands, burrowing into my neck. Needless to say, that after a minute or two of trying to convince him (unsuccessfully!) that he was okay, I ended up taking him in the house and letting him watch (what else?) Caillou. I'd ask him periodically if he wanted to go outside again, and he was very adamant that "NO!" He did not.

We got home around 10:30 and hit the hay. Hope your 4th was fun-filled and fabulous as well!