4th of July.

So Lib and I were super stoked to visit the Maroon Bells this weekend...I got off work and Lib didn't have school on Friday, so we were set to explore. Well, needless to say, we didn't end up in Aspen (where the beer flows like wine..)

BUT, I don't think it could have surpassed the fun we had around Provo!

I wish I had pictures for all of this...

The best was spending time with each other, and with our friends and family.

Friday we had an epic day of rope-swinging in Mona, UT with Em and Clayton..If you haven't been, it's time! R+H joined us at the Freedom Festivals, which I am positive was Ryan's very favorite experience of the summer :)

Saturday we hit up the hot-air balloon festival with our friends Drew and Kerri. Although we missed the take-off, it was still pretty sweet. They had an accuracy competition, where they had to steer their balloons over this "X", and then throw a bean bag at it. Closest was like 6 feet...not bad. They also had a competition to see who could pop the most helium balloons in the air. That was pretty cool.

It was an epic day for ballooning...I would have loved to be in the air with these guys. What a great way to see the valley (*Lib and I would love to learn how to hang-glide...seems awesome!)

Anyways so after maneuvering through the beginning of the parade, we stopped by and visited our friends the Cardons, with their baby Cal. He was pretty much a champ, despite the loud noises.

Then we hung out with some other friends for awhile, before taking off. I think parades are interesting. That's about it. Lib likes them more, I think. The most ironic part of the parade were the 6 state patrol officers on motorcycles. They had choreographed a nice little skit. You can count on the 4th of July parade to be the one and only time you will ever smile or clap at a state patrol officer. I'm not sure I went so far as to clap, though.

We did other things. Blah blah blah. This post is too long.

Eventually we went to the fireworks. It was fun, but strangely everyone missed the finale. Not sure what happened. Tough economy.

Overall, we had an absolute blast. It was a great way to spend the 4th.

I appreciated that the whole community could get together to celebrate something. It's a once-a-year event, unfortunately, but at least we celebrate a worthy cause: freedom. It is such a privilege that requires great work to maintain, and we appreciate those who preserve it. The lack of freedom in the world is pervasive in the media, and ironically many are still desensitized to that reality. The simple opportunity to truly reflect on this blessing we take for granted in the United States makes the 4th a success in itself, fireworks and festivities and air balloons aside.