Fourth of July on the Greenbelt

My mom, my sister Alyson, Alyson's kids Eliott and Alice Ann drove up and met us in Idaho Falls. My dad couldn't join us because he was out of town on a pioneer trek. Alyson's husband, Jared, had to stay behind and work.

We met them there about 2:00. We found a great place over by the stake center by the temple. There was a huge tree that we were able to sit under for shade. We usually leave someone there while the ladies go do some shopping. This year we left Bryon, Logan, and Natalie while we took everyone else. We really did quite a bit of shopping. We didn't get back to the Greenbelt until after 5:00. Yes, we did quite a bit of shopping but we also spent some time looking for my mom's lost glasses. When they first got to the greenbelt, she must have had her perscription sunglasses hanging from her shirt. Well she laid down on a blanket and when she got up they were smashed beyond all recognition! Then we went to the mall. We looked at some shirts in Sears. My mom even went into the dressing room and tried a shirt on. We then went to Old Navy. It was at Old Navy, my mom realized she lost her glasses. We went back to Sears and looked all over and couldn't find them. We looked at Old Navy to no avail. We were beginning to think it was a very expensive 4th of July for her. We shopped a little more in the mall. I talked to Sam about Grandma loosing her glasses and how we should say a prayer in our hearts that she can find them. We decided to go check one more time to try to find them. Sam walked right into Old Navy and found them within seconds.

When we got back to the Greenbelt, we ordered pizza for dinner and Bryon went and picked it up and brought it back for us. Once the road was closed on Memorial Drive, we moved out into the road. The kids occupied their time by throwing "pop-its" that their Grandma Roskelley bought for them.

The fireworks display was awesome! We had great seats. I think it truly was one of the best fireworks display we have seen.

I Love A Parade 07-04-08

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays.

This year it was a different feeling as we were sitting along the parade route. Sam wasn't with us because he was dancing in the parade. It was such a strange feeling knowing that I have a child old enough to be in the parade.

We sat near the end of the route. Sam's team was one of the first entries and so that way, Bryon could go get him and they could come back and watch the rest of the parade. It was a little cloudy that day and so we would get some relief from the sun beating down when it went behind a cloud. My friend, Linda, and her girls found us along the route and they came and sat by us.

The parade was fun to watch. You can always measure the success of a parade by how much candy you come away with and my kids got a bunch! Here are a couple of pictures of my patriotic cuties. I am not sure why I don't have one of Conner.

Sam in the Fourth of July Parade 07-04-2008

Sam was in the 4th of July Parade. Janie Fisher called and said there was a shortage of boys and wondered if Sam wanted to do ballroom in the parade. I wasn't quite sure if he would want to or not but when we asked him he was so excited about it. Last week the spent a couple of hours learning their routine and practicing the routine going around the church parking lot. Sam came home so excited. That night he went to the church and helped decorate the float. He kept asking who was going to watch him. I let him know that we would be there and he would probably see people along the route he knew. He wanted so much to have someone come and watch him. We ended up calling my in-laws and they rode up to see Sam in the parade. The day of the parade came, and Sam could hardly wait until it was time to go. I kept wondering how excited he would be if he know how hot and miserable it was going to be. They danced to "I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy". We sat near the end of the parade route. He was still smiling when he made it to us. He loved the parade experience and can hardly wait to do it again next year!