July 4, 2013 Celebrations

While this post includes a fair amount of photos, we actually took loads more and still, we didn't capture so many people and so many events. The 4th of July is a BIG DEAL to most Idaho Falls natives and most definitely to my family. Great traditions, beautiful weather, and a lot of family and friends make this my favorite holiday of the year!

First will be the pictures. Second will be a record of the things we did each day of our trip...it is a long list that I took down to remember all that we really did do. Probably not super exciting for people to read beyond myself. :)

I loved seeing family this week and especially loved watching my parents' 22 grandchildren play together. Sure grateful for the US of A!

4^th of July Vacation 2013

Friday, June28

·Drive to Grand Junction and sleep in hotel

Saturday, June 29

·Drive to Layton (Thomas stayed awake the ENTIRE drive until the last 3 minutes),

·Enjoy SIL Jayme’s baby shower, wash bug-infested car, dinner at Chili’s

·Sleep at Mark and Judy’s

Sunday, June 30

·Drive to Idaho Falls (Thank goodness Chris downloaded episodes of Elmo’s World on the ipad!)

·Hang out with Doug and Billie until ALL of the family arrives for Peter Vance to take our family pictures

·Follow up with an epic family dinner, slip’n’slide, kiddie pool, miniature car riding experience

Monday, July 1

·Can’t get into the Apple to work out. Nicole jogs Community instead

·Swimming with cousins at the Apple after a friend who works there pulls some strings to get us in (Chris worked remote at Doug and Billie’s)

·Dinner at Hayley’s house. Nicole gets so scared of nephew Nicholas’ fake tarantella that she jumped on dinner table while screaming…food on table somehow survived.

·Mom and Nikki buy flowers and mom makes one of her famous posters in preparation for Michele and Eric’s temple sealing

Tuesday, July 2

·Nicole delivers poster and flowers to the Strebel’s house where Portlock’s are staying. Emerson, Carly, and Sawyer luckily are awake even after their parents tell them to go back to bed because they help Nicole sneak inside and not-so-sneakily place delivery outside Portlock’s bedroom door.

·Michele and Eric are sealed for time and all eternity! “There is work to be done and victories to be won!”

·Lunch at Gator Jacks

·Leftovers for dinner

·Hang out with Kent, Caroline, and Chad

·Begin process of cleaning out Dad’s flooding den L (Only good thing to come of this was inheriting some of his great books!)

·Kids “late night” at Grobergs’

Wednesday, July 3

·Chris and Nicole take kids to Smitty’s for breakfast

·Help mom prepare prizes for golf tournament

·Chris and Dad hit the driving range

· 14^th Annual Nelson Golf Classic. Chris won a patriotic lawn chair. I helped eat his participation prize of white chocolate popcorn. Yum! Pizza Party at Heise

·Nicole and Hayley attend Kangoo workout class in a parking lot

·Chris goes to Kevin and Bill’s firework show while Nicole stays at home with the sleeping kiddos. A couple of fireworks fell over and shot into the crowd. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. Still a good show!

·Chris, Chad, Bob, and Dad play Harts late into the night at the Potters’. 

Thursday, July 4

·Parade- Asked Thomas later what he saw at the parade. His response? “Dancing. Girls!”

·Zollingers' for pizza party, cotton candy, kiddy pool, and socializing with the extended family

·Visit with great friend Stephanie, her daughter Clara, and sister Heidi

·Party at Kevin’s Car Barn! (included fire truck ride, miniature horse carriage rides, bouncy house, golfing for money, bike obstacle course race, and a great dinner, and tour or their beautiful new home

·Drive to the river for fireworks. They are delayed due to Search and Rescue looking for a man who disappeared in the river. We went home without watching the show. Sadly, the man was found the next morning. He had drowned.

·Watch late night TV even though we are insanely tired

Friday, July 5

·Visit great friend Brittany Pickett, daughters Karli and Allie, and get to see her mom and sisters, too.

·Boating with family. Bobby’s boat hits a rock and ruins prop. Luckily this was after most of the fun was had. Dad stayed out with some of us on his boat.

·Chris and Dad go to Lone Ranger at the movie theater.

·Mom, Nikki, Angie, and kids go shopping!

·Mom, Nikki, Angie, Hayley, and Alfie walk Community Park

Saturday, July 6

·Brunch at Smitty’s with family! (Yes we ate there twice in one trip and ordered the same things both times)

·Attempted to walk to Farmers Market. Got hailed on and went home. Our only break from terribly hot temperatures

·Did a video interview of Mom and Dad for family history…covered birth to marriage

·Snow cones and inflatable slide at Angie’s

·Baby sitters for kids. Adults eat dinner at Stockman’s

·S’mores at the Potters’

·Pack!

Sunday, July 7

· Drive from 6:45am to 7:20pm Idaho Falls to Parker. The kids, miraculously, were amazing! Didn’t even have to turn on the ipad for Thomas.

· Dinner at Michele and Eric’s.

·We’re home!! Unpack and Chris re-packs for business trip starting on Monday. Dirty kids take baths and sleep REALLY well.

One of my all-time favorite 4^th of Julys!