Fourth Of July Family Reunion

Boyd's family has a reunion over the fourth of july weekend every year. This year, his parents were in charge of planning it. We met at the South Jordan park on Friday night to play games and watch the fireworks. Saturday we went on a hike and then swimming, Sunday we had a talent show, and Monday we watched the hot air balloons and went to the parade. It was a fun weekend!

On Friday night, we played at the park. Drew taught us a game he learned in the Dominican Republic on his mission. It's like baseball, but different. This is Boyd and his brother Seth.

This is Boyd and his brother Drew.

On Saturday, the first activity was a nature hike in Saratoga Springs/Lehi area. Each adult had a kid to keep track of and help them identify birds and flowers and weeds and trees and stuff. In the left corner is Boyd's sister Jenni, then his other sister Mary, Aubrey, and Caleb. After the nature hike we had a picnic lunch and then went swimming at a small water park in Lehi. It was a fun day!

This is Josh's flamingo.

On Saturday morning we watched the Balloon Fest. These hot air balloons were part of the Freedom Festival. This was the first one to go up into the sky.

We got there a little after 6am to watch all the balloons inflating and to see them off!

I think I'd like to go up in one of these someday.

I think there were eventually 21 balloons up in the sky. They had a hard time getting them all back to the field though. The wind wasn't cooperating.

After the hot air balloons, we went to the parade on University Avenue. Boyd and I set up chairs to mark a spot off on the road for us, but when we came back later that day there were a bunch of people camped out there! So we basically lost the spot. Since they didn't throw candy it was okay that we weren't right on the road. We had breakfast before the parade started, and BOYD ATE SOME FRUIT!!! This doesn't happen very often. Can you imagine??? He doesn't like fruit!

The missionaries in the Provo mission get to be in the parade! I looked for Clayton Schofield, but I didn't see him. After the parade we went back to the Campbell's house for lunch, watched the Princess Bride, and then the fun filled weekend reunion was over. 'Til next year!

We wanted to do something fun for Memorial day weekend, so we decided to go camping. We met at Seth and Tricia's house (Boyd's brother and his wife). This is Boyd and his sister Mary right before we set off on our trip!

Unfortunately, we had the wrong tent poles for this tent. It took a long time and all of our efforst to make the thing stand.

This is the best we could do.

After only a few hours, the wind started blowing really hard and there was lighting striking everywhere. Our unstable tent was blown down. We decided that since our tent was such a sad sight, we had better pack up and leave. Fine with me!!!

Unfortunately, the wind and lightning gave way to a downpour, so after only 5 or 6 hours we decided to pack up and go home. If we'd had a more stable tent, we might have been able to last the night, although I must not lie. I was happy to be going home.

But before we left, we had to eat our foil dinners! They were delicious.

On Monday we decided to go to Kennecott Mine, which is located on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley.

This is what the mine looks like. It is one of two man made objects on earth that can be seen by astronauts from outer space. (The other object is the Great Wall of China). It's 3/4 of a mile deep and 2 1/2 miles wide.

This is a tire for the humongous tractor things they use to carry the dirt. Boyd is 6'4" so the tire is probably 12-15 feet tall. I wouldn't want to get in the way of something that big, that's for sure!