Funny Everett!

This is how we found Everett this morning. After he was wake, I was talking to him when he said "I took a nap today." I said "Why?" "It was really, really dark and I still tired." Makes me believe that he got out of bed really, really early and I am glad he decided to lay down and take a nap. Although I think his bed would have been much more comfortable. Funny Everett!!!

Herman kid's birthday party July 11, 2009

My two favorite little boys!

Everett was really excited outside of the bounce house.

This is how Cole and I started off the day. He was pretty happy as long as he could look around.

I offered to make this cake just for fun. I had done a similar one about 7 years ago and I thought it would be really cute.

We got invited to a triple birthday party for Joe, Hailey and Kade Herman. They had a bounce house (which I believe Everett was in for about 30 seconds), lots of friends and great food. we had a blast!

Bonfire at Big Corona! July 10, 2009

Our good friends the Colliers invited us to attend a bonfire to celebrate summer. It was the perfect weather for such a great time. We ate hot dogs and had smores. What more could you ask for!Everett had his first fruit punch from the can. I'm not sure how much got in his mouth but he sure enjoyed it!

The whole family had a fun time at the beach with our friends.

After dark some vendors were selling light-sticks. Everett thought they were the coolest thing in the world and loved playing starwars with his new friends!

4th Of July

We started out the day at the Newport Beach Second Ward's pancake breakfast. Everett loved eating the pancakes.

Cole was happy and content just hanging out with Mom.

We ended the day watching fireworks over the bay. It was an amazing show. Everett was sitting on the fence and I got to cuddle with my two boys. Granted I was trying to keep Everett from falling down a cliff into the ocean and Cole just didn't want to be put down. Good times!

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern impassion'd stress, A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness. America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov'd, In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life. America! America! May God thy gold refine. Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream, That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears. America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea. (lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates)

I am always grateful to be reminded of what a wonderful country we live in. Today in church we sang "America the Beautiful" and I got choked up. I am grateful for the men and women that have sacrificed so much so that I could enjoy my freedoms today. I so marvel at the people that have worked and sacrificed for all the blessings that I take advantage of. What an amazing legacy our generation has been given.
It is my hope that I will strive to follow with a legacy of my own. That I leave the world a better place. I believe that if I teach my sons righteously and with the Lord's help they will be my legacy. I am so blessed to have them.
I give thanks to my father for passing his love of our country to me. He was a role model of a citizen who would fight for his country and beliefs. I hope that our armed forces today are filled with people who have the same convictions that my dad had.
I am so proud to be an American!