Happy 4th of July!

* HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY *

What is the 4th of July without a little Watermelon??

This year I went up to my parents for the 4th since I'm running out of time to spend with my family...It was really great! I seriously have the best family ever! This time around, I was just with my parents, and my two sisters and all their families. They have their husbands and little kids, so I sit around and don't have a whole lot to relate with on the adult level. I still feel like a little kid around them... For example, we were all hanging out at my sister Charlotte's place and they had a huge blow up slide/pool. I heard this, an so naturally I threw on my swimsuit and went over there (thinking that everyone would be in their swimsuits, adults included). To my surprise, I show up sporting my suit and cover-up, to find the only ones in swim suits were under the age of 11. I ate a piece of watermelon, waded around, and sneakily snuck back to my house, to change, before too many people at the BBQ tried to introduce themselves to me/congratulate me on my mission call.... How sad. When did I get too old to play on slip N' slides??!! It was a depressing realization that until I'm married, I will probably have more in common with my siblings kids, than them. Haha not really. I miss being a kid! I guess I will just still be one. 

The 4th was a pretty relaxed day. We feasted on snap peas, and beets from my parent's garden all day, and then had an incredible fresh salad with strawberries etc all from their garden. That has always been a hobby of my parents'. They love to grow a vegetable garden!

I have so many memories as a little girl, helping my dad plant potatoes, pick carrots and weed. This is definitely something I want to continue in my life someday. Summers spent eating fresh veggies are a favorite "Miller tradition" of mine! There is just nothing like eating fresh vegetables out of the garden!

My family is not huge into "toys" --but my Dad did invest in buying an ATV since moving to Logan. Up there they actually have land to use them on, and so we cruised around on those for part of the day.

Apparently my family has been doing a "cake float" for the past few 4th celebrations, but last year I was in San Diego on the 4th so I missed it....Anyways, so my sister made a few cakes, and decorated them with flowers and then "floated" them in their little pond in the back-yard. We waited until it was dark, lit the candles, and sang patriotic tunes... After "My Country Tis' of Thee" we realized there really aren't that many patriotic songs that everyone knows, so we concluded with singing "Happy Birthday" to America! haha

I truly believe I have the cutest nieces and nephews in the world! I will miss them probably the most when I'm gone! They are all going to be so different when I come back!

^ Pippers and I ^

^ Noelle does not smile a lot in pictures... ^

^ Little Marky cheesin' for the pic! ^

I had a reunion with my friend Stephen who just got back from his mission in Czech Republic. We played put-put and I dominated. I've missed this kid, it's good to have you home buddy! :)