Doesn't everyone celebrate the trek across the west with fireworks?

Here in Utah, Pioneer Day has taken on more and more of an elevated status. I don't have any facts, but it feels like it's at least equal to the celebrations around the fourth of July or Easter and clearly surpassing Memorial Day and President's day, based on the media coverage and side-walk sales that often accompany the day. 

 

~~ While you can see we start out combined, it's not uncommon to separate at some point in the evening only to switch it up again for the actual show ~~

It may have something to do with the fact that it's in the middle of summer and with the three "F's" - Food, Family, and Fireworks. In fact, starting around Memorial Day the papers are full of dates and locations around the STATE with locations where you and your family can celebrate BOTH holidays. It's pretty typical that most cities will alternate one or the other, especially in terms of fireworks (likely due to cost) - but that doesn't stop the parades and fireman / police breakfast bonanzas in nearly every town. 

Being good citizens we fully and gleefully participate in the festivities. 

~~Bonnie, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Chad {missing is Brent, although he is pictured above with the 'men-folk'}~~

We consider ourselves extremely fortunate in that we've been able to maintain strong friendships with five couples from college (University of Utah) married student housing.

~~Here's Tom and his daughter Brittney ~~

~~Here is Trudy and youngest daughter Whitney~~

When we lived on-campus it was not uncommon for us to get together nearly every weekend (and even some nights as we pooled our resources for dinner). As we've all found homes which stretch across the Salt Lake Valley and our families have continued to grow, we don't spent quite as much time together. But there are some traditions that we all share - and the Bountiful Fireworks are one of those traditions. 

~~Here's a fraction of Ron and Andrea's clan - David, Jacob, and Angela ~~

This is probably our 8 or 9th year (Andrea needs to validate that number) we've been coming to the fireworks show. It's really magnificent. Ron and Andrea scoped out a great spot that puts us really close to where they light the fireworks and so they are right in your face and cover your whole line of sight. The park where we sit is near a canyon so for the really loud fireworks, not only do we get the first boom (that fills your chest) from the sky but we also get to enjoy the echo from the canyon. 

There's not much that changes - which I have to admit is part of the allure for me. We either have dinner beforehand or bring dinner to the park (depending on activities earlier in the day). We all bring snacks, which quickly become community property - thankfully!!

We all catch up on kids, families, home projects, update schedules, plan to get together, and tell the same jokes over and over. Then around 10:00 the show begins. 

Although this year, after watching all of the vendors walk around trying to sell glow sticks, Andrea and Amy came to our rescue and brought some of our own. As you can imagine, it really cuts down from the kids begging for stuff being sold at ridiculous prices. 

Ron and Andrea's kids (at least the younger ones ... again, Andrea you'll have to confirm whether the older ones had the same condition) used to be so started by the fireworks they would hide their eyes, ears, and on occasion begin to cry. So we had no idea how or what Cole would think. He LOVED them. I think he loved the loud ones more than the big and bright ones, but he never looked away. In fact, early in the show he started laughing - really laughing. Whew! 

These folks are all very special to us. We've gotten each other through some really hard times and celebrated some really terrific events together. We can't wait until next year and the next time we see all of them. 

It Must be Birthday Season -- Taylor's Birthday Is Added to the Mix

While we love all of you who don't celebrate your birthday during the summer, around here you are the minority! Although this week we celebrated Taylor's birthday. She got to have a special day with her friends the day before ... for some reason, we weren't invited ... so we can only speculate on the tickle fights and 'girly' stuff.  

We met at Uncle Chris' and Aunt Angie's house which was good because of all of the folks present. Taylor had a pretty good haul, er ... time. 

Grandpa Roger and Grandma Carolyn gave her some Madame Alexander dolls for her very own from Carolyn's collection. Carolyn does a lot of restoration of dolls and actually builds (built - not sure how much work she's still doing around this now with a house full of grandkids) many porcelain dolls right in her home (kiln firing and all). She has won a number of awards for her beautiful work. 

Grandpa Keith and Grandma Jacquie presented Taylor with an usual box wrapped with brightly colored tissue paper and ribbons. Then she gave Taylor even more unusual instructions on how to get into it - 'start punching through - HARD - and turn it upside down'. After several meager attempts by Taylor, Jacquie had to step in and finish the job. Turns out the box was really a 'homemade pinata' - although instead of being all candy, this one was full of coin and singles and peppered with candy - woo hoo! (Here's hoping Grandma Jacquie draws my name at Christmas!) Taylor was clearly blown away (as were all of the guests) but probably not as much as her brother and cousins. 

It's always nice to get together and great to see everyone, even if it's just for another birthday. 

  

And besides wearing out the dog, even Cole is beat from all of the fun and play!

Bring on the BBQ

For Teri's birthday (we were in Sun Valley) but that's not going to prevent us from celebrating, albeit a few weeks later! We made up for it by going to Pat's BBQ down in SLC. If you're going for the location, then don't bother. But if you're going for the yummy lip smacking food - you're in the right place. 

The table was FULL of food - ribs, pulled pork, collard greens, roasted potatoes, cornbread, bbq chicken, red beans and rice ... yum, we may have to back this weekend, for some reason I'm hungry again.  Here's Teri, apparently mesmerizing the crowd with some really fascinating story - I think you really had to be there... Cole & Teri - yucking it up, as usual! Cole's disappointed to have to leave to go home. But it just means's we'll have something to look forward to for next time.

Shawn surprised Teri with this beautiful new bike (sans the basket). I haven't had a bike in years (too many years to disclose here, even among friends and family). I'd been looking at the cruisers for years, realistically recognizing I'm not biking any races any time soon. I have to say, while the axiom is true and you never FORGET how to ride, I can tell you those first couple of strides were a little crazy scary. But with the handle bars raised and tilted, the seat at the right height - I'm only somewhat scary on the road. I think we'll need to do a few more spins up the street before we start exploring getting a trailer for Cole. I've attached a better picture of the bike since the shot above doesn't quite do it justice. And you can find the Nirve web site for an even better shot

and all of the bells and whistles... speaking of bells, I got to get me one of those too - got to have some way to warn the pedestrians. 

Alabama Jones and the Lord of the Thing (aka Music Camp here in Layton)

You can tell it's summer in Layton because there is another music camp in the Layton Amphitheater by none other than our Bishop's wife, Carol. Kids from all over the neighborhood can participate. There is a nominal fee to cover costumes, sets, rental, video recording services, etc. The kids, parents, friends, and families all have a good time. Even the parents get into the act helping out with sewing, equipment, corralling kids. 

They're on for two nights where they repeat the performances on each night. First they go through a music review. This year's theme was Beach Party, hence all of the hip shorts, capris, and sandals. Besides seeing all of the kids in the neighborhood put on fun show, Jordan and Jared, Shawn's youngest brother's kids, were in the show. They're really having a good time. 

You can see Jared's having such a good time (he's the kid in the blue shorts on the right side of the shot) he wants to stop and enjoy the show like the rest of us :-) But they were so diligent in all of their practices. And we drove Jared home from dinner the other night and he has his CD (Carol and team made for the kids to learn the music) and asked us to play it for him -- that's dedication. Way to go Jared!!

His older brother Jordan (in the center with the green shorts and pink lei) is clearly more involved. 

We took a few videos (just quick ones with our camera, so the quality isn't the best) so you can get an idea of the talent but mostly the cheering and screaming from the audience. 

Cole wasn't so sure about the whole thing. But perhaps he's really distracted by all of the long hair waving around on his head.

After the music review, there's no going home (we know, we tried ... just kidding) more entertainment by a musical play. Not only does our Bishop's wife help plan and coordinate the camp, she also wrote and directed the whole production. I won't lie - there's a lot of camp and corn in the play - but we're not there expecting broadway, just to see the kids and spend a nice summer day in the park. 

This year's production, in case you can't tell from the title is a mix of Indiana Jones and Lord of the Ring. So our hero is Alabama Jones in search of the special ring but he keeps getting overcome with another persona, so he refers to the ring as his 'precious' (if you haven't seen or read Lord of the Rings, you'll have to just imagine). And he's pursued by 'dorks' (also known as Orcs in LOTR), and instead of the all seeing eye there was an all smelling nose... 

We think they did a great job and we've decided our neighbor Caiti, who we've know for more than 10 year, has found her calling as a villain!! And of course Carol and her whole team are a little nuts - she really devotes herself to these kids and this production (and nearly every high school production over the last 10+ years) and still has young men in high school / junior high - so she's likely not done any time soon. 

It's not completely clear from the picture, but the 'dorks' are bowing down to the thing (aka as the all smelling nose). I regret not having enough battery because I couldn't get a video of the 'breathing', which suggested there was a little bit of congestion up there.   Cole having not seen Lord of the Rings isn't laughing and cheering like the rest of us - but he's really enjoying himself, really!

It's hit or miss on getting the finale video to load (you can try accessing directly via You Tube - search utah, layton, or music camp) or just imagine either of the above pieces with  times as many people singing, dancing, and lots and lots of Jazz Hands!)