24th of July and Some Work

The 24th is similar to the 4th for us. Sometimes people who aren't from Utah ask what you do on the 24th. The answer is: the same things you do on the 4th. The night before I went to fireworks at Mueller Park with Danielle and Lucy. They always put on a great show. 

The next afternoon I went to see "Maleficent" with my parents. They had gift cards to the movie theater, so we got some popcorn and drinks too, which basically never happened at our house growing up. We really liked the movie a lot, actually.

Derrick was a little tired, so he attempted to take a nap on the couch.

Dad and Mom at the movie (before it started, don't worry)

That night my parents and I went to Nate and Mandi's house with Spencer and Amy and their kids too. We ate some yummy food, then we snuck out the stuff for a water fight we had brought with us. Once Daxton was in his swimming suit (after he had taken off all of his clothes because they got wet), everyone had a great time getting each other wet!

Spencer ran home and got his kids pajamas and my parents went home. Meanwhile, the kids put on a circus for us for about 30 minutes. There was nothing but screaming, singing, dancing, running, and performing going on. 

Trying to get a picture with Lyla

Abby did my hair!

I was imitating Lyla's mad face

When Spencer got there, we changed the kids, then got out the snaps and sparklers. Most of the kids loved it. Connor didn't like the sparklers too much, though.

Then Nate and Amy did a great firework show for us. Connor lasted about 5 seconds on the blanket before he came and sat on his Dad's lap. The rest of the kids loved the show, though.

It was a great night!

I worked for Centerville City again this year. This time I got to teach Merit Badge, as well. The best part? About once a week we watched at least part of "Remember the Titans," which happens to be my favorite movie. I could quote the whole thing for sure, now.

In all my years working there, we never had to call rain days until this year, and we called two! The second one, it was raining soooooo hard! Everyone came up to the pavilion, but we were still all getting wet, so we called it a day. Danielle and I spent about ten minutes in the rain putting things away and were completely soaked! 

The day after the rain day, we all went back at night to watch the movies the kids had made on the movie day for Kids Kamp. Abby and Lyla came with me to set up and play at the park. But before we left, they were playing in my room and they put my necklaces on their heads like headresses. Love those cute girls!

This picture is totally awful, but it is the only one we have of most of the group!

The next day we went through everything that was in storage. We found A LOT of crafts that had mine and Annie's handwriting on them. It was a weird flashback thing for me. Lots of memories associated with that job. I was glad I got to do it one more time.

Mine is on the left, Annie's on the right

I have been thinking a lot about how hard it is to grow up. But working with all of the teenagers, I have become more and more grateful that that stage of my life is over. As much as I loved my high school experience, life really does get better.