And More Fireworks

And of course because Utah likes to celebrate Pioneer Day on the 24th of July, we got to do more fireworks. Cole was still not afraid of them! He and Emily even did sparklers all by themselves. Maybe they are about ready to see Grandpa's big display!

Baseball Teams and Beauty Queens

On the 24th of July in Spanish Fork, we celebrate Fiesta Days. They have a very lengthy parade that is mostly made up of local little league baseball and softball teams, as well as the beauty queens from all of the local towns. The kids love it, even if it is long. That could be because most of the entries throw candy. Cole sat with his cousins and their friends and they taught him how to join the mad scramble for the candy. Thankfully, he had nice friends who gave him some of theirs when he was a bit too slow. Emily loved to see the princesses, but stayed out of the candy fight to defend her territory on her mom's lap from her cousin! She still ended up with quite a bit of candy anyway. I'm not sure how that happened!

You Should See the Other Guy!

This is what happens when you try to take on a 6-year-old! Just kidding. Cole was unknowingly playing too close to a wasp nest and the wasps decided they didn't like it. At least 6 or 7 bites later, his eye swelled closed, his ear puffed up, and his hand doubled in size. Of course, it doesn't seem to bother him or slow him down, but it sure does gross his mom out!

Water Fun

We got the Slip 'n Slide out for Cole and his friends to play with one day. After they got bored and went inside, and I had turned the water off on the slide, Emily and her friend started playing on it. The next thing I knew, they were taking turns filling up cups of water in the pool and then walking to the other end to dump water on the other girl. Then they would laugh hysterically and switch places. Again, I don't know where the girlie giggling and laughing comes from!

Where Did She Come From?

I don't know how I got such a girlie girl, but it is becoming more and more evident that Emily and I do not have similar personalities! She and her friend decided, on their own, to do each other's hair. They obviously still need a little more practice! At least they only used water and a brush!

4th of July

Finally, after 4 years of trying to get Cole to like the 4th of July, I have succeeded! In the past, he has hated the loud noises associated with fireworks, but this year, he decided he was no longer scared.
One day he told me he wanted to get fireworks, so we hurried and went to a fireworks tent and bought some. Thankfully he has a Mom who has shot off enough fireworks that I know which ones are loud and which ones are not.
On the 4th of July, we started with a tank battle and went from there. He couldn't get enough of them! He kept wanting to shoot more and more. We also shot some more off on the 5th of July. In fact, that day I even used them as an effective threat that if he didn't behave, he couldn't do any more that day.
Now, he can hardly wait until the 24th of July when he can shoot off some more!

They Do Love Each Other

One day when all they do is fight with each other, I am going to show them these pictures and remind them that they did love each other once! Cole is a great big brother and Emily thinks he is the greatest person ever.