4th of july.

4th of July in Utah is pure, patriotic magic. Utah Valley knows how to celebrate Independence Day. Between watching Provo's iconic small town parade, eating tacos and shaved ice downtown at the fair, swimming in the hot sun at Spanish Fork pool, and getting together with the family to bar-b-q at Grandma's Gray log cabin house- you really just can't beat a Utah 4th!

Eliza wore the cutest little vintage outfit I picked out of my mom's shop, and her rosy cheeks matched perfectly. It was a HOT day, but we had a lot of fun. She started to poop out towards the end of the day, but when the sun started to set and the breeze came up through the canyon she got a second wind and was running all over the lawn again. My favorite part of the day was sitting on the porch with the family and watching the fireworks. We had a few fun, small ones to shoot off in the yard, and Eliza was not scared at all. She would lean forward on my lap with huge eyes. When we ran out, we all just sat watching the rest of the valley explode with color. It was one of the first summers in awhile where "illegal" fireworks were actually legal to purchase in Utah. Like, the big ones. Also, you're allowed to shoot them all month long. So, we had a show every night! But, on that night, it was the most perfect. Eliza started to droop in my arms, her little head sliding into my elbow. She fell asleep watching the lights, and I lay there long after the family went inside, listening to the wind blowing through the aspens and watching the fireworks bloom over the trees. 

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect holiday. I know this is late, but Happy Independence Day!