We started this week with Bethany turning 7!  Her birthday was Monday and we left to go camping that morning, so we had her open presents on Sunday night.  She was so excited!  She loved all her presents and we love her.  What a sweet girl she is!

Monday we packed up and left sometime after lunch for Palisade!  Have I mentioned that I love that place?  Kevin and Savannah had to work but they came up later that night and stayed all day Tuesday.  Then we had some friends come up Tuesday night and the rest of us stayed until Thursday.  It was hot this year so it was perfect for all the cooling off in the lake that we wanted to do!  We had a camping spot that was 13 steps from the water (Sarah and Cheyenne counted for us) and was also bordered by two giant cottonwood trees that were dreamy for climbing!  We read, we swam, we jumped off the swim dock over and over.  The girls inflated all the rafts and made a giant floating island with their arms entwined as they floated away the hot afternoons.  The last evening, some of the older girls got the adventure itch to jump off the tall rocks at the side of the lake.  Our last morning, we all went and yelled "Geronimo!" as we jumped.  The cool water refreshed us one last time!  I so love that place.  This year, it had the extra advantage of reminding me of my family who came last year.  I wish it had been warmer when they came because it can be so. much. fun.

Saturday was 4th of July.  This year, a friend in our neighborhood posted on Facebook an invitation to pool our money and our fireworks and meet in the church parking lot at 9pm with ice cream to share.  She had an overwhelming response!  I'd say at least 100 were there!  We saw more fireworks than we had ever before and didn't have to do any of the lighting!  The kids ran in the park behind us with glow necklaces and I think a fun time was had by all!  What a celebration!  Happy Independence Day, America!