4th of July Weekend - Balloon Festival

...and plenty of pictures to prove it!

Being that I grew up a Utah County girl (and still am at heart), the Freedom Festival was always a huge part of our 4th of July celebrations. We always got up early and went to the Balloon Festival, the Grand Parade, had BBQs and water fights and finished with the Stadium of Fire fireworks... the whole shabang. After moving away and getting settled up north a bit and especially since Chris and I got married, we've gotten involved in some of the 4th of July traditions within our own neighborhood and community, and it had been a while since I'd been down for the Utah County festivities.

Since Chris was working on Saturday, Leah and I took ourselves down to the UC to spend a couple of days at Grandma's house. It hadn't even occured to me that the Freedom Festival festivities had already began down there. Once we realized it, we immediately made plans to get up early and enjoy a fun holiday tradition.

I don't think she was very excited when I went to wake her up at 5:45am...

We let her stay in her jammies to soften the blow a bit!

Luckily, once we loaded her in Grandma's umbrella stroller and got out with the crowds... she quickly changed her tune! Crowds and people watching is this girl's cup o' tea!

She was fascinated by the flames!!

(man, i love this snuggle-bug)

Lovin' her some G & G time!

She also got plenty of time with her cute cousin Lydia. These girls are getting so fun as they become more and more aware of each other!!

i love the hand-holding.

Cute little Mae was there too in awe of all the balloons.

"wow"

Up, up and away...

So fascinated.

I love a good coke sunrise!

and just like they, they were all up in the air and we were left watching them from the ground!

waving bye-bye to the balloons

I'm not gonna lie....

I kinda can't get enough of this face.

xox

"YAY for the Balloon Fest!"

We had so much fun getting up early and hanging out with some of our favorite people. We only wish that our daddy could have come too!

After the excitement of the event had died down, Grandma and Grandpa were kind enough to take us all to breakfast. yum.

Leah's washing down her first little taste of pancakes!

Such a big "almost" 9 month old!

But mostly, she spent her time trying to figure out how to open the box of Trix. She must be her Daddy's girl.

What a great start to one of my favorite holiday weekends of the year!!