July 4th

Happy July 4th!  What a great day!-  It has been quite a while since we have all had a day together- just to play!   Well, almost a full day (Jared had to go into work for a few hours in the morning).  I started the day by taking the kids to the park at 8:00am!  It was part of my master plan to get Katie to take a nap 3 hours earlier than normal.   After the park we went home, had a snack, and then I put Katie down for a nap at 10...... and she actually slept!

After nap time we went to the Greeley Stampede!  It was super fun!  Katie and Tyler were both mesmerized by the horses, sheep, bulls, cows and cowboys/cowgirls.  We lucked out and were able to secure tickets to the rodeo on the club level, and so we sat in this nice shaded area at a table with an area behind it where Katie could walk around without being in anyone's way.  It was awesome!!  We were able to eat our sac lunches at a table and just enjoy the show.  We were able to sit in real chairs with arm rests and backs instead of bleachers.  We of course made friends with the neighboring table as Katie and Tyler draw attention wherever we go.  By the end Katie was sitting on the old cowboy's lap next to us and was given a bracelet by his sweet wife.  After the rodeo and we walked around and tried on cowboy hats, and of course had to get some ice cream from the carnival.  We love our annual tradition of going to the rodeo- it is pretty amazing!!

it is hard to see but that is Tyler laying on the front of that boot

YeeHaw Cowgirl

Cowboy John telling Katie all about the rodeo

After the Stampede we went home and Katie took a second nap (a 4th of July miracle).  Then we went to the Loveland fireworks.  We met up with our friends, The Blacks, and had a picnic dinner.  The kids (and Jared) ran around and mingled with other families we knew that were there.  We topped off the night by watching fireworks, of course.  It was the first time in all of Katie's life that she laid down and watched something without moving for 30 whole minutes.  She loved them.  The best part of the show for her was that she somehow acquired a glow in the dark necklace (no idea where she got it/stole it from).


On the way home we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for 30 minutes and not really moving much.  Katie started yelling from the back seat "faster, drive faster!"  We of course could not move anywhere, but got a kick out of her back-seat driving.  When we finally got home it was late, and we were all exhausted!  The 4th of July is becoming a favorite holiday- can't wait for next year!