What a week......

This has been one crazy week that I am sure glad to get behind me!!! Between dress rehersals for McKenzie's dance recital, the actual dance recital, my grandma passing away, her viewing and funeral, our city's Independence Day celebrations, a block party, the heat and being 30 weeks pregnant......I am pooped. It has been a good week though. McKenzie had her first dance recital, and she was awesome!!! She did so well and we all loved seeing her up on stage! My grandma passed away on Sunday June 22nd. She was 87 years old and had lived a wonderful life. She was an amazing woman and I will truly miss her! I knew I would cry at her viewing, because I HATE viewings.....I don't know what it is, I just have a really hard time at viewings. And I knew I would cry at her funeral, but man....I was a boob! I would just compose myself during the talks, and then they would do another musical number and I would just start bawling. More because of the words in the songs and the new meaning that had taken on, as this is my first grandparent that has died and the only other real experience I have had with death was when Scott's grandma passed away almost 5 years ago, and so we had only been married for just over a year when that happened. So it has been a new experience for me, but it has been a precious experience as I have been able to have some wonderful talks with McKenzie about what has happened and how wonderful eternal families are! Kids say the sweetest things and I have been truly amazed at some of her comments and thoughts!
This morning our city started off the Independence Day celebrations by having a parade. The West Bountiful Parade is also known as the "Candy Parade" and we will just say it lived up to it's nickname!!! Brayden loved the fire engines and police cars that started the parade off and loved a "Noah's Ark" float because of the animals. We thought he would love all the horses and everything, but no, the highlight of the parade for him was the candy! He got SO excited when they would throw the candy and would run out and pick it up and come running back with a candy in each hand with a huge grin on his face so proud of himself! It was really cute to see him get so excited!!! McKenzie had a ball collecting candy as well and was so proud of the stash she collected. Tonight was also a block party for our neighborhood. We had a BBQ, a live band, and just visited with people. It was a lot of fun....as long as you were in the shade! McKenzie and Brayden and a couple of the other kids were the life of the party once the band started. They were out dancing and head banging and McKenzie was "shakin' her bootie" (a phrase she learned from a cheer watching my little sister play Jr. High sports). It was really cute to see the kids out there having a ball! The night will finish with fireworks.....if McKenzie lasts that long....otherwise it will end when she crashes!!
I am just trying to "take it easy" as the doctor advised me...since I have borderline high blood pressure while pregnant, and with the heat and everything, but those that have kids know that that is kind of a difficult task with an almost 4 year old and a 17 month old...but we are trying! He also told me to not spend too much time outside, but that is also difficult since my kids LOVE being outside. Yes, I do have a fully fenced backyard, but I am not to the point I am comfortable just letting my kids outside by themselves. So, I just find the shade and try to sit down and watch them enjoy themselves! I am just grateful for central air!!!
Sorry to make this a novel.....there was a lot going on and not much time to split it out this week!!! They won't all be this long....I promise!