I cannot get that Katy Perry song out of my head.

I’m not sure who keeps allowing time to pass this quickly, but seriously.  I’d like a word with this person.  July??  We’re already seven months in, with only five to go?  (I maybe just counted that on my fingers.)

There’s lots to love about July, however prematurely it seems to show up.  I love how the nighttime air is punctuated with the sudden POP! of fireworks for the entire month (in Utah, fireworks are legal the majority of the July).  Even as I sit here, I can hear them out there just blasting away.  It’s warm, and glorious, and water park-y. 

Here’s Olivia basking in the summer sun at Seven Peaks:

She isn’t really sleeping, just protecting her eyeballs.

Unfortunately, the Fourth of July hit me in a way that Father’s Day and my birthday didn’t, as far as my life situation goes.  I had an especially hard time dealing with the splintered pieces of my family as I attended barbeques and firework celebrations.  I think it was the FAMILY HOLIDAY!!!! atmosphere.  I think it was the joy on Olivia’s face at everything; something I’d usually share had to be unwillingly hoarded to myself.  It’s the type of thing you want to share with someone who had an equal donation of DNA in that magnificent little being.  But I kept it for myself- because I had no choice.

I am struggling. And I am tired.  But I think it’s ok to admit that.

Emily and I took little O to watch the Stadium of Fie-yer (fire)(that’s just the way they pronounce it in the song they play every year before the fireworks go off.  STAY-dium of Fie-YER!) fireworks on Saturday.  Don’t ask me why they did it on the 2nd of July.  Whatever.  Anyway, we took Olivia even though it would mean she’d have to stay up until 11 pm, and even though we had no idea if we’d find a spot to park, and even though we had no clue if there’d be any good places to sit, and EVEN THOUGH! we knew we’d probably be stuck in traffic until the wee hours of the night coming home.

You guys, a Fourth of July Miracle occurred.  I am pretty close to positive that our Founding Fathers looked down on Emily and I and exclaimed, “These poor, beleaguered maidens need our assistance, straightaway!” and Thomas Jefferson was like, “I’m on it!”  Because we magically found a super close parking spot, even though we left only 20 minutes before the fireworks were to start.  And then we instantly found a perfect, grassy hillside, directly facing the stadium on which to lay our blankets.  And then Olivia was so happy and excited that she was a perfect angel, despite being awake a zillion hours past her bedtime.  And then the fireworks started and she snuggled up to me and “oooh”ed and “awww”ed and “these firewuhks are BEAUTIFUL!”ed the whole time!  AND THEN, when the lovely show was over, we skedaddled right back to our car and made it home in 10 minutes flat, leaving a whole trail of stalled traffic in our wake.  Plus, when we got home, Olivia peaced out into sleep immediately, without making a peep. PLUS, PLUS, she was really great the entire next day at church, at home, at play. 

I am pretty thankful that, despite this difficult, I-hate-it-so-much situation, things can still be beautiful.  You know?

I gave her some tortilla chips to keep her pacified while we waited for the show to start:

And then I beamed at her while my nails went around blinding people.

I’ll be honest, I totally spaced it on getting Olivia a patriotic outfit.  In fact, I was tearing through her closet today, shrieking, “She must have SOMETHING that’s red!”  But she really doesn’t.  But then Michelle dropped the ball, too, so I felt not that bad about it anymore.

Here are the kiddos in their (not very patriotic, but they’re cute, so who cares?) Fourth of July outfits:

My camera and I are fighting because it made this picture blurry. Of all pictures, seriously, camera.

Today was a big day because it was the first time this year that all six of my siblings were together at the same time:

We are all so old now!  Here’s, left-to-right,: Cameron, Alisha, Michelle, me, Emily, and Matt.

Our birth order (in case you’re interested to know): Alisha, Michelle, me, Cameron, Emily, Matt.

And then we did this:

Awesome.

And then we got photo-bombed by Matthew.  I win for tan-ness. Yesss.

Excited for fireworks.

Hoorah!  We love America!!!!!!