Today my baby boy turned 7!

For his birthday dinner, he requested "Fancy", which he explained meant steak, mashed potatoes, and peas.  It also meant that all of us needed to wear our church clothes.  So we did.  Because we're fancy.

I simply cannot imagine my life without my "dessert child."  He has been the sweetest finish to our little family.

This morning started off right when we met Chad and Hillery Harris and their family for breakfast.  Chad and Brad went to high school together, and they have been great friends of ours for years.  They live in Georgia now, so it was lucky that our paths crossed this week here in Utah.  Jessica and their daughter Cassidy used to play together when they were tiny, and we loved seeing "Jekissa" and "Caddisy" back together again, although they don't have many memories of it.

Then we finished off the day right by seeing Ephraim's Rescue, a movie about one of the men who played a big part in rescuing the Martin handcart company.  There were only one or two places that it crossed into Cheesy, so for the most part it was really good. 

This may not look like much, but it is the first photo taken with my new phone.  I am a Certified Cell Phone Dud, but today I joined the rest of the world and got a smart phone.  My poor little flip phone is retiring to the land of typewriters, VCR's, and rotary phones.  Sad.

The fourth of July is easily my favorite holiday.

Freedom Festival Parade in Provo = Best Parade Ever.

Then, off to Larsons' for water games, chit-chat, and a barbeque.

 

 The best thing about this Independence Day?  Brad was here with us!  He hasn't celebrated a July 4th in four years.

After much partying in Utah County, we headed north to celebrate with the Bitners.

America Rocks!!

 Today we hung with Haley and her kids at Classic Waterpark, which is where Jess is working this summer.

This picture makes me smile so much, especially when I remember how sick this boy was a few days ago.

She was so grumpy with me chasing her around to take her picture, but if she'd just suck it up and pose for me at first, I wouldn't have to follow her around for 20 minutes, appearing out of nowhere when she least expects it with my cheesy grin and poised camera.  Moms are so embarrassing.

So fun!

Then, we went out with Mark & Lois and John & Lili to celebrate John's and my July birthdays.  Delightful!

 

This afternoon, we went to the see Monsters University.  Despite the fact that I fell asleep for the first 15 minutes or so, I thought it was a cute show.  Falling asleep is just my default reaction to all animated films.

Tonight, I met these fabulous ladies for dinner.  They are L-R: me, Paula, Michelle, Larissa, and Christy, my good friends from high school. We try to get together every summer and it is always a highlight. It is amazing to talk to them and hear about their lives--all so different--even though we all started out in the same place. 

 

 Tonight for FHE we went into Salt Lake City with Haley & Casey's family, Cameron & Kate, and Mark & Lois.  Nothing in the world compares to the flowerbeds around temple square.

After a most excellent Food Court Dinner, we went to see Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  Highly recommend.

Yes, I am that mother/aunt that makes everyone stop what they are doing and pose for yet ANOTHER picture.

Near the temple, we ran into a cute young woman who was posing for a photo wrapped in a German flag, so of course we had to stop and talk to her.  It turns out she is headed to Berlin to serve a mission in a couple of weeks, and we had a great conversation with her about all the amazing people she is about to meet.  Ich liebe Berlin!