A Day at the Farm

We started our day off at the ward breakfast, where the youth helped make and serve breakfast burritos. The kids and I walked down to the park where it was being held with Mabel, and while she was pretty freaked out at first by all the people, she quickly warmed up to all the attention she got.  

Traditionally, Hannah's parents host a big family get together on their farm in Grants for the 4th of July. Usually it's a multi-day affair and all the siblings come. We've been unofficially adopted as part of the family and have joined in on these gatherings for the past several years. With the 4th falling on a Sunday this year, and one of the brothers getting married in Mexico next week, the farm festivities got significantly scaled back. Hannah and Cecilia were the only siblings who came, but Cecilia brought Sako along, and we were there and most of the Shaw's came and Luci invited Bailey, so there was at least a decent group of kids. We mostly just hung out, which is what makes the farm so fun. The kids rode horses, shot airsoft guns, drove the golf cart around, braided hair, and played several games of capture the flag.

Hannah, Cecilia, and Grandma Becky were super nice and helped facilitate horse rides and trips around the property in the carriage. In the heat of the day, Papo got the firehose out and sprayed the kids down in one of the horse rings. Jeb experimented a bit with some wet plate photography and of course there was a lot of just sitting around chatting. 

Later in the afternoon we had the annual talent show, which of course ended in a dance party. Hyrum played his guitar and sang all by himself. He didn't sound great, but he was confident and we were super proud of him for doing it. As a family, we got up and performed Weird Al's parody song Aluminum Foil. The finale of the show is always the Anderson women performing Proud to be an American in sign language, and even though all the sisters weren't there, those who were did not let us down!

Of course, the Fourth at the farm wouldn't be complete without lots of food. I brought the customary (and somewhat requisite) bean dip, as well as a large pan of cherry crumble bars. There was also hot dogs and brats and BBQ chicken and pasta salad and jalapeño poppers and corn on the cob and watermelon and chips/dips galore.

We stuck around past dark and soaked up every minute of the day. We are grateful for the hospitality we are shown every year and always look forward to this celebration. We are so thankful for the country we live in and the freedoms we enjoy because of it.