Independence Day.

I think I post to alleviate anxiety, which is funny because it usually takes me so long (with my low-performing BigMac), that I end up stressing over the time spent posting.

Today, I'll make it quick (that's what I tell myself every time haha).

Hopefully it will calm my anxiety over the details of our upcoming youth conference (next week) that I have spent hours upon hours trying to coordinate, plan, and execute -- along with heading the committee of 6 other adults and 5 youth. Sometimes when you work with that many people, things get more complicated than they need be. That causes the chairperson an inordinate amount of stress.

Back to the fourth of July (to clear my mind).

Remember, we had taken the long drive home from UT to CO the day before.

I got up bright and early on the 4th to run to the store to purchase the needed items for our celebrations that day. Then I ran home to put it together, just in time to head to our ward's annual Independence Day gathering (sometimes it's a BBQ, sometimes it's a breakfast, depending on the 3-ward rotation at our building). Even though I am no longer the Ward Historian, I still feel a need to capture events. Honestly, pictures make the memories sweeter (and more vivid, especially for life-weary brains like mine).

The cute Sisters serving in our ward:

I loved having Tay and Nae here to celebrate with us!

There's Mar.  She often disappears with friends at gatherings such as these.

The bike parade. More sparse than in past years, but no less fun.

Andddddd the water fight.

More adults and youth participated this year (v last year), so that was very refreshing.

(I, of course, stayed out of it yet again. I was holding 3 phones and camera... someone has to be the designated non-water-participant to hold that kind of stuff.)

After the ward BBQ, we headed home to clean up and prepare for our second BBQ of the day at the Leaks.

After dinner, we lit some fireworks out front. I had purchased the smallest firework package at Costco in UT (they don't sell those packages in CO), and some of the Leak family had brought a few fireworks, too.

Afterwards we headed out back to their deck to watch the various displays all over the valley below.

Another celebration in the books (and I actually did it FAIRLY quick).

I can't believe July is more than half over. School registration for Mar started today.

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'....

Next up (I think): Youth Conference.

Family Reunion.

**WARNING**

Picture overload ahead.

The Syddall Family Campout was held June 29 through July 3.

Actually, only Bill, Mar and I headed up on the 29th.

Our campsite was at the end of a road and was beautiful.

It was so so peaceful that first morning.

Grandpa rolled in bright and early, just in time to enjoy our last-night's-dinner-turned-breakfast (we ate at McD's on the way there the night before, since we got off later than anticipated).

Once the basics were unloaded, Grandpa and Mar headed out to make a phone call.

Then Grandpa set off to pick up Robyn's trailer, and it was back to Bill, Mar (with her ukelele) and me.

We set out on a little drive.

Tay and Nae were the next two to arrive...

...then Lex and Jase.

Before long, the little campers showed up.

Bill cooked in the most beautiful kitchen ever the next morning.

Bill's littlest youngest brother benched him...

 ... and Bill curled his leg hahahahahahaha.

 There was a whole lot o' corn-in-the-hole playing...

 ...and a lot o' cruising around on ATVs.

Wonderful Sweet Scarlett (and her posse) showed up Friday afternoon.

The ATVs were definitely a hit with her.

Scarlett and her bunny all nice and clean... (not for long!)

(I should mention that it rained and rained Thursday night and throughout a chunk of the day on Friday. In between all that rain we made the best of a wet situation haha.)

Little {Grandpa} Billy is AWESOME at performing entertaining tricks for Wonderful Sweet Scarlett.

Austin showed us a great way to get oxygen to a fire... Little {Grandpa} Billy was impressed enough to practice it with some of the youngers:

Tay and Mar played some tunes (per their momma's specific request... thanks, guys!)

On Saturday, Bill and I took a little 4-wheeler drive to view the sights.

 So pretty.

We snapped a few family pics on Saturday because Lex and Jase were heading out that evening.

Jessi and Grace.

Marlee and Mauri. 

A few jumping pics for good measure...

Sunday morning we packed up camp to head home.

We snapped some more family pics right before we parted ways.

Cecilia, Angela, Matt; William, Grace, Justin 

Kellen, Dayna, Jeff, and Koa 

 Kevin, Cannon, Marlee, Jessi

 Leki, Sarah, Russ, Gage

Hunter, Cole, Robyn, Kade, Hayden, and Hank 

The whole gang (minus Shi, Lex, and Jase)

Post post: As I was reading over this again today, I felt that I should also mention that this was the first campout that we've had since Brian passed away last November. I know he was much on the minds of everyone there. He was definitely missed! I didn't post about it earlier because I wasn't quite sure how to include it. The family still struggles with the fact that he's not here, and I think we are all trying to figure out how to align our feelings of loss with the feelings of joy and happiness we get from being together.

So so much fun, marred slightly by the accident Courtney, Hunter's girlfriend, had the last evening there. She broke her pelvis in a 4-wheeler roll-over {tears}. She ended up at the U Medical Center and had surgery to put in pins. Recovery is slow (at least three months), but we are so grateful it wasn't any worse.

It's always good to get together with the extended family. It gets harder each year, so we relish the times we can all swing it. 

Love you guys!