4th of July Weekend - Elina's Blessing

The 4th of July weekend was full of busyness. On Friday I met up with one of Mike's cousins wife's and her kids. My kids had been dying to go to the Dinosaur Museum for a few weeks now. So, they were excited. We had a great time. They spent a good amount of time building a dinosaur, and then playing in the sand. It was a good way to kill an afternoon, and Elina was a perfect angel.

On Saturday we did the 4th of July Parade in Provo. Mike was able to go with me and the kids. It was so nice to have him there. We ran a little late (it was super hard to find the family since people sat right in front of them), but didn't miss much of the parade. It started raining just after we got there and I moved under a tent and stayed there the rest of the parade. Mike was in charge of the camera so this is what we got.

The kids spent some time standing up front

This is looking back at our group

We spent the afternoon at Mike's aunt and uncle's house eating lunch and letting the kids run wild while we chatted. That night my parents came to stay and me and my mom spent time getting ready for Elina's blessing on Sunday.

Church was at 12:30 so we had a good amount of time to finish last minute things. Another family blessed their baby that day to (we've had 6 babies in the last two months). Mike did a great job, but it was very hard to hear him, he was speaking quietly and there was another baby (not Elina) crying. It was a nice blessing. Mike, Phil (Mike's dad), Quinn, Court, Paul, Nate, Ryan, Grandpa Howell, and Bishop Squire participated in the blessing. After the blessing my parents held Elina. My dad got Elina to sleep and then fell asleep himself. It was cute (to bad no camera's in the chapel).

Once home we had to get all the food going. It was so nice to have help from my family and Mike's family - thanks so much for helping with food.

Things were so busy, we hardly got any pictures. I will have to put her back in her dress one of these days and take some more pictures.

Elina just before we left for church

Elina in my arms after church

Elina sleeping after the blessing

She was just a sweetheart after church. She slept most of the time and was just a cutie for whomever decided to hold her.