4th of July Festivities (and TONS of pictures)

You know who knows how to do 4th of July?  PROVO.  Provo does, let me tell you.   They don't just do one day.  They don't even just do two days.  It's called FREEDOM WEEK.  I've never felt so patriotic in all my life.

I will now begin my campaign for everyone to visit us here in Provo for the 4th next summer.  That means you HANAIKES, PINEDAS and HAMBLINS.  

I don't even know when Freedom Week actually begins…it's longer than a week.  For us it all started in June when we received in the mail a big ol' magazine about all the events and festivities, when and where they will be.  Hot air balloon festival, Colonial Fest, Stars and Stripes party, Children's Parade, half marathons, Stadium of Fire (a big huge concert where they shoot off ginormous fireworks at the end!  This year it was Carrie Underwood as the entertainment!)  I don't know how we've missed it all in the past 3 years we've been living here.  We had heard a little bit about some things, but we had no idea how huge it was.  I remember my boss at Subway (who only got like one day off a year) saying that she would choose 4th of July OVER CHRISTMAS if she didn't already have Christmas off.  That was just ludicrous to me.  And don't worry, family, it still is.  But I have to admit that the 4th is now possibly my second favorite holiday ever.  

Okay but now I will get to the point, and the pictures.  And that point is that this is good country.  All this patriotism is definitely catching, and it's made me reflect a lot on history and symbolism and freedom.  Particularly thinking about Veterans.  My Grandpa Chandler was a World War 2 Veteran.  This 4th of July week has given me many opportunities to think about him, and for that I'm very grateful.  I've found that that's what patriotism means to me.  Appreciating what we have here in America and feeling gratitude for the men and women who sacrificed so much to make sure we had this freedom.  Andrew and I are living the American dream!  We are free to pursue education in whatever field, we are free to pursue our family, however big or small we want, we are free to practice our religion, free to express opinions and free to do so much more.  God bless America!

Here are the main events we attended:

Children's Parade

I'm telling you their serious about this stuff.  The miniature floats were sooo elaborate!  I thought it would just be kids riding their bikes and waving flags.  But no.  It was amazing.  I swear next year we're making a float!!

4th of July Freedom Parade

our patriotic girl!

the first set of disney princesses 

we were able to get a spot right near one of the announcer gazebos where he had dance contests during the downtime of waiting for the parade.  audrey and i couldn't resist of course.  she loved dancing with the other kids…all about 4 heads taller than her.  she was looking around at everyone in awe!  this is us walking back to our blanket afterwards.

audrey's face when she saw elsa and anna

there were about 10 high school bands throughout the parade, possibly more

my favorite part, the Veterans!

everyone stood and cheered when they came by.  things like this get me emotional.

a BAGPIPE BAND.  yes.  for real.  who knew that many people played the bagpipes?

one of the many huge and impressive floats.  there were quite a few beauty queen ones, big and pink and sparkly, that i should've gotten pictures of.

second round of disney princesses

BYU float!

adorable color guard girls for one of the high schools.  quite talented, too.

police men doing synchronized motorcycle moves

this little girl loved audrey and wanted to hug her the whole time.  audrey quite enjoyed the attention.  i think she liked the sunglasses best.

a real live TANK

amazingly impressive wood carving 

this was one of the biggest surprises to us.  hundreds of missionaries walking down the parade!  another thing that brought tears to my eyes.  

and the senior missionaries ride in style

Stadium of Fire

We, like everyone else in Provo, found a spot outside of the stadium to watch Stadium of Fire fireworks.  We lucked out because we were up on a hill a bit above the stadium where we could see the screen and hear Carrie Underwood singing.  Mariah and Ross were with us and we packed ups whole little dinner picnic for it.  The fireworks were like nothing I've ever seen before.  We loved it all.  I had the Ray Charles version of "America the Beautiful" from the Sandlot playing in my head as we all had our heads tiled back and mouths wide open.

she actually really loved the fireworks.  i was worried she would hate it and i kept thinking we should take her home before.  but she fell asleep for about 20 minutes before they started and when they went off she didn't startle awake, she just opened her eyes and looked up in absolute awe!  then came the smiles and the babbles and happiness growls.  

So….come visit for 4th of July.  Seriously.  Everybody.