Pioneer Day

This year for Pioneer Day we went out to Jesse's parents Monday night and started out our celebrations with a camp out in their backyard. Everyone (all but Tyson and Tayler because of work) came and set up their family's tent.

 Starting on the left it goes Mom and Dad's tent, Ours, and Andrew and Emily's tent. Cyrus and Sterling slept in the house so they could for sure get some sleep. While the rest of us slept outside. Thankfully we all put our rain flies on the tents because we had a few showers in the middle of the night.

 After setting up camp we all roasted bread dough in the sticks that Jesse made.

 We had several different things to fill them with. Whipped cream, jam, cinnamon-sugar, melted chocolate, and vanilla pudding. I decided to try the chocolate with vanilla pudding. IT WAS AMAZING! Jesse is a genius.

 Early the next morning Jesse got up super early to go meet my family down town Salt Lake to help out with the Days of 47 Parade. My parents and Jesse are in charge of lining up the dignity and antique cars. When Jesse got home he took a quick nap before we went off for a bike ride.

But before he fell asleep he mentioned to the family that two of the antique cars were old fire engines. And the SLC firefighters were the drivers. So Jesse got the opportunity to talk with them. He mentioned to them that he was on their hiring list. A little while later Jesse had walked by a new fire truck with the SLC Fire Chief on it. The firefighters around were hollering to the Chief that Jesse was on their list. So the fire chief called him over and shook his hand. Jesse asked him 'You've gotta tell me what I can do to get higher on your list." The Chief asked Jesse his name and said that he would remember him.

So hopefully when they are looking at their hiring list they'll see Jesse's name and remember him from the parade. Fingers crossed.

 We all drove to a park to ride our bikes around. None of us had been to this specific site so we didn't know exactly what to expect. Well it turns out we ended up going around this loop that was only 0.8 miles long. Kinda lame for the adults, but totally perfect for Ryker. He just loved it.

After a little while we decided to head back home. But Dad, Emily and I wanted to ride our bikes home from the park. It was a 8.6 mile ride back home.Mostly down hill. It was perfect. I enjoyed all 35 minutes of it.

 To cool off from the heat of the day we all headed over to the pool.

 Dad brought over his snorkel gear to teach Ryker how to snorkel...

 ...and to my surprise he totally got the hang of it. He spent a good amount of time swimming around the pool just like this. Granted all the gear was way to big for him, but he made it work.

I think this means we need to take him to Cancun or something and to get him is own gear that'll fit properly. (Hint hint Jesse)

 Mom bought the boys all matching swimsuits and rash guards. I thought they all looked so cute together.

 Once we all got home from the pool Andrew, Jesse and Ryker built a dam in the creek. While they did that the rest of us cleaned up camp.

Then it was FIREWORK time. We all got our chairs set up and Cy being the busy body that he is started pushing Sterling around in the stroller.

Once we started the fireworks Cy was very content in grandma's lap.

To wrap everything up I just have to say that we all had such a good time.The day went by way too fast. Which is a good thing. I always enjoy our family time together.

I too have to add that I am so very grateful to the pioneers for all their sacrifices they were willing to make for us. There isn't a day that goes by that I think about them. For example I complain about a long car ride to California in air conditioning or a heated car. They had to pull their "car'"t. Or lately I have been super hot and have hated to wear clothes. When the pioneer women wore dressed to the floor with long sleeves and bloomers underneath with no air conditioning to ever cool themselves down.  UGH! I couldn't do it. That's for certain.. I'm grateful to them for doing that so we all didn't have to do it.

Happy Pioneer Day!