Our 4th of July 2014

Our 4th of July was filled with family. We loved it. Thursday night (the 3rd) we went to the Freedom Festival booths with my sis and bro-in-law. We ate some pretty yummy food before walking around the booths.

After that I had to teach my gym class then we went to Matson's parent's house for some fireworks with his family. Our nephew was a bit scared of the fireworks but started warming up towards the end by shouting, "Green!" anytime a firework went off. He was getting his colors a little mixed up, everything was green.

We hurried home to bed because the morning of the 4th started with an alarm going off at 5:30 in the morning. Matson was exhausted so we snoozed until 6. Then we hurried and got up to head to the balloon festival with Matson's sister's family. We love going to this every year. No matter how early it is and no matter how crowded it is AND no matter how tired it makes us the rest of the day, it just has that 4th of July feeling. Plus, the 4th of July wouldn't be the same without PACKING it tight full of activities! We watched the balloons blow up and then go up into the sky.

After the balloons, we went to breakfast with Matson's family (everyone but his older sister and husband who were out of town sadly). We seemed to get to Magelby's Fresh right on time before the crowds started rolling in. Breakfast conversation was all about what we all thought our little one would be...boy or girl? K* thinks it is a girl, Mama C* thinks a boy, C* thinks a boy, and Matson's Dad never really said. They always ask us about what names we like and we usually change the subject. This time Matson didn't though. We told them some of our ideas, hoping that they don't all steal them for their own. Haha. Our top name combo they all seemed to like and Matson is 100% sure that will be our baby's name........unless it is a girl. Ha. If it's a girl...we are screwed. No name ideas there. We will take any suggestions.

After breakfast I headed to the parade with N* where we had reserved seats that Dad got from his work. The rest of my family rode their bikes down to the parade and met us there. Surprisingly the parking down by 800/900 east wasn't that bad! We all went to the freedom festival booths, shared some chips, and then N* and I walked back to our car. Which took like 30 minutes of sweat dripping down our backs and poor N* as she is in her last month of pregnancy. I wish someone would have  seen us both walking through someone's sprinklers who were going off. Haha so refreshing.

The family at the Provo 4th of July Parade

We headed to Hokulia and I got my FIRST shaved ice of the summer. My brother came into town from California. We then headed home to swim, play pickleball, and pool volleyball. The best, relaxing, and fun afternoon by the pool. Grandma and Grandpa came over for 4th of July dinner!

Lastly, we went to Stadium of Fire. It was quite the show. Carrie Underwood was amazing, of course. She has an unbelievable voice and is so personable. The firework show (and music that went along with it) were perfect! I loved it!

Our day was JAM PACKED. But that is the way the 4th should be. Matson and I got home around 1:00-ish and were exhausted!

Our 4th of July

The night of the 3rd we went to the Freedom Festival with Matson's family. Then late late later that night we biked down around the parade route to just check it out. 

Eating the yummy wood pizza at the Freedom Festival

Got us some free Red Bull

The morning of the 4th started with a homemade breakfast made by my mama and then a family bike ride to see the parade (watch as we biked along the parade route). After the parade we checked out the Freedom Festival, picked up some free ice cream, and then biked on back home. I love the whole biking the parade route tradition we've got started. It is a fun way to see the parade and not have to camp out or get all tired for. PLUS: you get exercise.


We were tired so Matson and I took a nap poolside...well actually Matson swam longer than he napped and I talked with my mama longer than I napped. We showered then headed to a family friend's BBQ party.

Little J* and I sporting our American flag pants we made together,
which I posted about here.

Stadium of Fire time. Dad spoiled us AGAIN and we all sat on the field again. It was seriously one of our favorite Stadium of Fires ever. Matson has been 3 times now all on the field and that was his fave, but I have been to probably 10 Stadium of Fires and I loved this one, but I don't know if I can call it a favorite?

Originally I thought, "What the heck? The Beach Boys?" But it was super entertaining and growing up listening to them it really was fun! Right when they started singing everyone (mostly the 50+ crowd) was up and dancing. My mother had a perma-smile on straight. There were times when Matson and I would look around at the whole stadium and majority of the people were dancing and singing along.

Dad and Mom enjoying the Beach Boys

I even have videos of them singing along.

There were so many guys like this.

Before the Beach Boys Scotty McCreery sang and he was super good and seemed much more comfortable than when we saw him last July at his first American Idol Concert in SLC (read here). And hey, he pointed at me when I stood up and yelled his name!

I was pretty much the only person singing along to Scotty McCreery.
I don't know every song but I knew some. 

The fireworks show was stellar this year. Better than years past I feel like.

Watching the fireworks together.

N* and I getting rained on by the ash. The programs made for great umbrellas.

After Stadium of Fire we went home and the boys put on their own firework show for us.

We hope you had a great 4th of July too! 

DIY American Pants

I saw this DIY project pinned on Pinterest (follow me on Pinterest here. My username is just ericatanner) and I just knew I had to make them. So a couple days ago I made em.

I obviously didn't make shorts like she did, instead I went for the pant route.

The woman's tutorial that I pinned, was super good and had some helpful hints. So I guess I am more of a testimonial saying that the tutorial I pinned is good! BUT I thought I would throw in some of my own helpful tips on what worked for me and what didn't.

I followed all of her same tips except:
1. I did not use a star stencil bought from the store, instead I used a Cricut to cut out our star shape.
2. I didn't use "Old Shorts", I went to Savers and bought some $3 old Eddie Bauer "Mom Jeans" but they kind of look like high waisted boyfriend jeans.
3. We used the same brand Simply Spray fabric paint, except our craft store was out of blue Simply Spray brand fabric paint so instead we used the Tulip brand blue spray paint. It didn't spray on as evenly but I actually ended up liking it a lot. Just spray far away because it sprays on in bigger drops.
4. I did not use a normal paint brush to do the stars. I used a foam craft brush which worked good. Less paint is better (this stays true for the whole project)!
5. For the stars I used normal house (wall) white paint that we had laying around. But I am sure even acrylic or any kind of white paint would work. I just would not spray the paint on.

I made these mistakes: 
1. Really really really really make sure that you cut out some cardboard or something to go in between the pants/shorts so that it does not go through. Cardboard that fits completely across the whole width of your pant legs.

Cardboard between legs when spray painting so it does not leak.
Then also for the stars so you have something hard to press against.

See this is my mistake. Cardboard didn't go all the way across.

2. I bought the Simply Spray brand for white but it said "Textured White", which may be the only white that the Simply Spray brand has. It seriously came out textured and dried kind of bumpy. I would not use this again. I instead would buy the Tulip brand white paint or maybe your craft store has just a plain white (not textured) Simply Spray.

Me wearing them this morning.
Yes, I cut my head off on purpose.
You don't wanna see my morning hairdo.

One thing I really learned was that not every stripe or star is going to be perfect. Just go with it and it will end up cute! Mine is definitely not perfect. The mess ups are ok! I can't wait to wear these all day today.

Happy 4th of July!

Up, Up, and Away

It's definitely the 4th around here. Well maybe not exactly the 4th of July, but the festivities have started! This mornin' we went and watched the Freedom Festival Balloons! It was my first time really watching them I am guessing that waking up at 9am and just looking out my window in past years doesn't truly count. 

Matson's sister (aka the photographer of the family) took this
cool polaroid for us!

C*, J*, Matson's dad, and Matson

It was so much fun. And guess what? Since it is only the 3rd...you can still go tomorrow at 6am I know butt hole early, but the husband and I cheated today and just went a little before 7am It is right behind (west) of Provo High School.

Enjoy your 4th of July festivities!

4th of July Gift

As many of you may know, I love holidays. So I like to just make things for each holiday for our family and friends. 4th of July is definitely our combined favorite holiday over at our home, even though Christmas may be my favorite. I think the 4th is both of our favorites! So I started by making these cute little 4th of July gifts for my mom, sis in law, and newly engaged sis sorry A*, just gotta throw that "engaged" part in whenever possible to kick off the 4th of July season. Super easy and fairly cheap.

I have the worst camera ever. Sorry horrid quality.

• Jello Popcorn, which I had never made before but was super easy and much more colorful and fun than caramel corn! I used this recipe from Our Best Bites. Super easy to make and I had all the ingredients already! TIP: I used Raspberry Jello because Strawberry tends to be lighter and more pink. But I am sure Cherry would be a good red too! Or even a Blueberry would be fun!
• Little Bowls or Container. I got mine in the $1 section at Target recently.
• Cellophane Bag
• Ribbon
• This Tag. It's suppose to be a holder for sparklers but I just hole punched where the cut outs for the sparklers are suppose to be. I put ribbon through the holes and then taped/glued the tag to card stock paper.

Our 4th.

4th of July is BY far both of our favorite holidays (we both love Christmas, of course, but the 4th is so festive too plus warm).

the 4th in our neck of the woods is more than just the 4th of July, it is more like the 1st, 2nd, the 3rd, and the 4th well at least this year it was.

We started the festivities on the 1st with our friends H* and K* and new baby C* whom I was happy to "help" hold and get to sleep at the end of our night (he makes me a little baby hungry...but no jumping to conclusions here people). Anyway we went to dinner at a yummy dinner at the Trolley then went to the Freedom Festival to check it out real quick. Next, we went to JCW's for the yummiest and cheapest ice cream cone in town and I made a fool of myself hiding from someone...long story. We ended the night chit chatting all night.

Matson and K* being goofs and eating their ice cream.

The 2nd started with a nice bike ride throughout town with my parents and us. We rode to the Provo's Farmers Market (picked up a limeade to share) and then we rode to the Freedom Festival (picked up 2 frozen bananas my dad's fave treat and the way to his heart to all share) and then we rode around for a while longer then finally headed home before my bum fell off from being so durn numb.

The rest of the afternoon consisted of this:

Matson was seriously asleep laying in the pool. We all enjoyed the rays before the Stadium of Fire.

Then STADIUM of FIRE buh bump buh bumm (that's the song beats in the "Stadium of Fire" song, which sounds just like the singer/song "Eye of the Tiger"). We went with my family to it and truly enjoyed it. My sister and I enjoyed the concert part probably more than the rest of the fam but dang were those fireworks uh-maz-ing. We were so pumped.  

We ate at DQ before. Yum. Mint Oreo Blizzard.

Matson has this thing about ruining EVERY picture we take. No idea he was just gonna lift me up?!

Me and my darlin' (and tan) sister!

Before the show stared we went and found Matson's family!

Finally a cute one :) All red, white, and blued out.

Matson and my brother J* and a super bright green light?

He had quite a cool stage/screen! Fun show.

Thanks Mom and Dad for taking us! 

The 3rd was just a normal Sunday teaching the Sunbeams and family dinner then the night consisted of some long waiting out on the parade route (I learned my lesson this year, folks. I am just not cut out for doing it. I get a little cranky with not much sleep and I truly do not enjoy the motorcycles zooming by all night). It was fun to be with friends and family talking, playing games and OH killing ants?

Matson, B*, and M* being silly right before they thought of their brilliant plan to burn and kill all the ants right by our area?

Matson preparing to kill the ants. I was actually glad they did because their was quite the ant hill by us!

Some of the burning (the were burning things for qutie some time). Boys will always be boys.

This here would be my 4 in the morning "shoot me" face.

The 4th consisted of the parade which I had watched uh....never because I cheered in it in High School and never been to it since, and then we were both exhausted so we napped til the afternoon then rolled on over to Matson's family house for a movie. Then we went to my parent's for some dinner and games. Then back to his family's home for their fireworks show loved all the Saturn Missiles! And then again back to my parents house oh the joys of having two families only blocks away from each other...seriously it really is nice to be able to be with both and enjoy each family's festivities for their fireworks show...Matson and my brother went a little crazy lighting all the fireworks that my dad went a little crazy on buying this year when we had a WHOLE cupboard already of 3 big boxes of fireworks we didn't need 2 more. But it made for some fun! Our friends T* and F* came over in the mid of our firework show and were a little scared of some tipping over and burning them? haha. I guess our family is too pyromaniac too think about that stuff. 

Matson lighting fireworks off. He loved it.

C* was so afraid of the fireworks!

I guess I am a child at heart because every firework session I gotta light a sparkler!

Thank you everyone for a very fun filled (4 days) 4th of July!

We can't wait until next year!

But even closer...we can't wait until the 24th (another holiday to light up some more fireworks and celebrate the pioneers)!