Owen's Third Birthday

*This post is long overdue, but I say better late then never!

We celebrated Independence Day and Owen's birthday in Utah on Saturday July 3, 2010. It was the tail end of our month long vacation and we were all pretty tired from our jam-packed fun fest of cousins! (try saying that five times fast!)

Saturday morning, we all woke up at the crack of dawn and drove to Provo to watch the annual Freedom Festival Hot Air Balloon Launch. When we got there, there were dozens of hot air balloons lying out on the field waiting to be filled. So we waited too with our sleepy kids...

There were lots of people there, and we all couldn't wait for the big launch!

Some of the balloons started filling up with hot air...we watched in awe. We got to stand close enough to them to feel the hot air and look inside the baskets.
Unfortunately after many wind tests, the breeze was too strong and they had to cancel the mornings launch and try again the following day. We had seen enough and decided we didn't need to wake up that early again.

After a nap and a swim, we headed over to Great Grandma Thomas' house for some Birthday/Fourth of July Fun! She was sweet enough to let us use her house for the festivities.

Aunts, uncles and cousins arrived and we had a BBQ in the backyard.
The kids were dressed in the red/white/blue and that was the
theme of the party.

Owen couldn't wait for his big moment,
and we couldn't keep him away from his giant cupcakes!Singing time...Happy Birthday Dear Owen

Dig in my boy, three years on this Earth and you've earned it!

This photo is the only shot I got of my sweet Grandma T,
I'm very sad I didn't get one of her and my kids that night...

Proof of my awesome skills:
I was trying to move the cupcake tray (one handed)
from the table to the counter when this happened....

After a quick cleanup, it was time for presents!
Owen needed a little encouragement and help to get started....

I think he got the hang of present opening, he is now a pro!
This look on his face means he's deciding which awesome present to play with first...We are so grateful for the love and support of our family.
I am in awe at how much my kids love their cousins!
They truly are the best of friends and it seems like they pick right up where they left off
when we come to visit.
We are so lucky to have the Green Family live really close to my mom, the kids can ride scooters or walk back and forth to each others houses for maximum play time.

Bailey and Reese

Sydney in the background(teenager alert!)
Brayden and Rhyan being silly...

Ally and Dani

Here we have CJ's elbow, Aunt Karrie, Uncle Steve
and our very own pyromaniac Andy

All the kids.
Reese, Owen, Brayden, Bailey, Rhyan, Sydney,
Dani, Ally, Ami, Lincoln, Tyler and Enoch

Owen loves his older cousins Andy and CJ.
Here is he with Andy who is now (ahem) 18

After the party, we all walked over to the park where the Lehi City fireworks were doing their big show. All the kids had matching glow necklaces so we wouldn't lose them in the dark, they had so much fun playing tag and running around.

We wrapped it up after that, and decided to save our own fireworks for the next night which was the actual Fourth and our last night in Utah.

Happy Third Birthday Owen!
and
Happy Independence Day America!