Floating the Provo River

The Man thought it would be a grand adventure to take The Circus floating down the Provo River on Pioneer Day.

Turns out is was indeed a grand adventure.

F-f-f-f-f-freezing cold water and floats with mega holes is always a winning combination.

Days of '47 Rodeo

If you're from Utah, then you know that the Days of '47 is kind of a big deal. 

Like, we became a State, big deal.

As it should be.

(Though it leads me to the question: do any other states celebrate their stateship the way we celebrate ours?)

And if you're from Utah, then you know there are two grand events that make up the celebration that is ultimately the "Days of '47", the week long rodeo event, and the giant, huge, televised parade.

Having grown up in Utah, I'm ashamed to say that I have actually never attended either one.  

Until this year that is.

It didn't hurt that we were able to sweet talk our way into the Mayor's suite either.  Truly invited by him, but without tickets to get past the usher...

Name dropping can get you places.

Cali and Tayler learned a lesson that sometimes the sweetest character can be in a pretty rough appearance.

Even if they do have particularly large and slimy tongues.

Pioneer Day 2013.

Since it's nearing the 24th of August I suppose I should post the pics of our 24th of July... which for you non-Utahans would be Pioneer Day, or the celebration of the day Utah became a state.

Which really means a second day in July to BBQ and blow stuff up into the sky.

Fireworks make me happy.

The last two years The Man and I have invited people over to hang out, BBQ on the front porch, and light fireworks.

This year I just wasn't feeling it.  I was tired, and I signed up for summer semester, which really messes with your attitude about summer, and we'd had to redo the garden in the front yard when all our bushes died and we had to pull them out.

But then I had an assignment for my nasty, terrible communications class and I needed to video myself doing a speech in front of 10 adults.

And I thought a good way to bribe people to come and listen to my five minute schpeel (on how to make a really good cake in the comfort of your own home, without paying bakery prices) was to offer them food in the form of  a BBQ.  So I said, let's do a BBQ on Saturday.  

And The Man said, if you're going to do a BBQ why not just do it on Wednesday, for the 24th?

And so we did.

On the evening of the 23rd, or neighbor and friend, Brandon, pulled up in front of our house with his truck and trailer.

to which I posted on facebook that it was just a BBQ and there was no need to camp out in front of our house.  Unless you wanted prime spots for the fireworks, in which case this would be a very good idea.

(He actually was just having West help him with something on his trailer).

(But my theory was much more fun).

On the evening of the 24th I grabbed the first 10 lucky people who caught my attention as the people started showing up on our lawn and dragged them into my basement to see my powerpoint (required by my teacher) and listen to me talk about cake.

And then the night was free for the good stuff.

Hamburgers, salads, desserts, and homemade ice cream.  Family.  Friends.

And fireworks.

Cali and Casidee had my camera through the night so the pictures are a little crazy, and a little grainy or blurry, but I think that has to do with they were also using my phone a lot.  They got some pretty fun shots I think.

Our 3rd annual Pioneer Day BBQ, in an overload of pictures, as happens to be my way of doing things.

 Someone who is a lot cooler than I am brought some cool glasses for the kids to watch the fireworks through.

Cali had the idea to take pictures through the glasses.

To me, this is the stuff that summer memories are made of.

Thanks to our neighbors and friends who come and made it so fun.

Pionner Day-Neighborhood BBQ

A few things.

At this point in the summer, I'm beginning to wonder if the boys in our neighborhood even come out before dark?

Maybe they're vampires.

We send our kids to bed at 9:00 because, frankly, I'm headed there myself by 9:30.  Or 10:00.
And I'm a stickler for routine.  I feel our family runs so much better on schedule.
That and life at our house runs much smoother when certain members of the circus get to bed on time.  *cough cough mom cough cough*

The kids get to go play night games when our door bell rings at 8:00.  But if you're ringing our doorbell at 9:12, sorry, you just missed them. 

Also, the new Navi (here) has back up sensors that beep at you if you're going to hit something.
They give me a heart attack.
They're out to get me.

They go off every time I back up.  The Man wondered if the sensors were just crooked and sensing things on the side of the car instead of behind it?

No.

For several days now, when I've left work, there have been absolutely no cars around mine in the parking lot.

My car is sitting there all by its lonesome with nothing.
Not a car, not a tree, not a garbage can, not a person, not a small child, not a skateboard.
Nothing.

I throw it into reverse, and before I even move (I wish I were exaggerating, but I'm not) it starts beeping at me 90 beeps a second. 
Those beeps scream at me "you're going to hit something!"
Except there isn't even a lone tumble weed blowing by.
And I haven't even moved yet.

Listen up Navi.
You are not my favorite car yet.
Don't push it.

How's this for another great draw something picture?

Can you guess it?
But if you can, don't tell Jen, because I just sent it to her.

And yesterday I posted about a fun summer reading thing where you read books to earn points to win books (here). 
I posted my list and linked up.
And then later, I read thier post again, and realized I needed to read books featured on their blog.
What?
Oops.
So.
I'm not going to figure out what books I want to read.
I'm going to stick to my classics list and just not win books.

This year we decided to hold our annual (two years running now!) neighborhood street BBQ on the 24th of July.
We provide the meat, you bring a side or dessert to share, and if we all pitch in a couple of fireworks, we'll have a great show.
Right?
Oh so right.

We had a bigger turn out this year than we did last year.
The company was amazing, the food was fabulous, and the fireworks were grand.
The kids took over the street with capture the flag.
The adults hung out on blankets on the lawn.
The BBQ was spitting out hamburgers and hotdogs on the front porch.

That's what summer is all about.
Even if we did set it up last minute.
Thanks again to all the neighbors who came.
Maybe next year will actually get invites out to everyone in advance?
That would be good of us.

The lighting of the fireworks and sparklers and plastic cups and all things flammable commenced with The Man's blow torch.
The grown men children were much fascinated.

Max P

Max C

I stole this from my cute neighbor Natalie

I stole this one from her too.

Max C with other fireworks going off behind him

Russ, one of our neighborhood pyrotechnicians

Tayler, Simone, Hincklee

Thanks again for the pic Natalie!

Brynn, Mia, Luke, Ryan, Casadee, Ashleigh, Noelle

It was almost more fun to watch the kids on the curb than the actual fireworks.
They'd get caught off guard and jump away.

This is one of our two piles of used up fun.
The man children of the neighborhood played hard with fire that night.

And this picture is to put my retired firefighter Dick-dad's mind at ease.

We took proper precaution before shoveling them into the garbage can.
Promise.

Next year.
On the 4th of July?
Be there?
Let's.
Someone remind me to get invites out door to door next time, will ya?