Fourth of July

 This year we decided to go with a small town Fourth of July.  Bret's family had a reunion in Blanding, Utah, that weekend so we went up a little early to celebrate the 4th.  The first time we've left Arizona for the holiday and Arizona has absolutely beautiful weather on the fourth!  Oh well, the entire week was gorgeous in Blanding, so I guess given

another chance, I'd still make the trade.

First priority was to hit The Patio!

 I have to confess some disappointment.  Either they changed something about their burgers since we last ate there or Giant Hamburger has just ruined all other burger joints for me. 

We headed on over to Main Street the next day for the parade.

Bret's Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Dennis were in the parade to advertise for Bluff Fort where they (and Bret's parents) had been volunteering for the summer.

I quite enjoyed this little "rootbeer float".  The Mormon missionaries were pedaling away to keep that thing moving.

The kids were having a blast scooping up all the candy.

Only in Utah could you have "The Gadianton Band" playing.

Complete with Rameumptom!

Mabel suffered an injury while getting her loot.  But Aunt Diana took care of her.

There were plenty of these to be seen while driving between Blanding and Monticello.

For the reunion we competed in the "Amazing Ancestor Race".  We drove around town racing to get clues and then get back to the church.  I think that was my favorite part.  It was a fun game!  But we didn't win.  Bummer.

We took a "small" hike up San Juan Hill.

 

We were supposed to be looking for this spot where a pioneer is believed to have carved "We thank Thee oh God" into the cliff face.

You can barely see it in this picture, but it's just over Aiden's head.

Anyhow, we hiked for about 45 minutes before finding out that we'd gone waaaaay to far. 

After the hike, we went back to Bluff Fort to learn a little bit about the Hole in the Rock pioneers and compete in a few more games.

We did a clothing relay race.  Somehow we got mixed up and the men ended up having to dress in the lady pioneer clothing and vice versa.

We had a yo-yo contest

Mabel found this rag doll in one of the pioneer cabins.  She couldn't stop mothering it.

We took the kids to the park for some down time one of the days.  They had all the old school toys!

We got in a little fishing.  Well, Bret and the kids did.  Well, the kids did.  Bret mostly untangled fishing lines and I did some reading and snapped pictures.

Aiden was the first to catch a fish!  And I'm pretty sure it was the biggest on caught that day.  We released it though, so we couldn't be sure.

   Gray ended up catching two fish!

It was a nice vacation.  Best of all was the break from the heat!

Concert Pianist

 Aiden graduated from his 3-year Let's Play Music program.  For the end of the year concert, they had to write their own composition.  His was called "Minor Fantasy" because he wrote it all in minor. 

After performing his piece, he received a congratulatory medal and certificate.

 This is his graduating class.

Now he's ready to move onto private lessons!  I know it's a long ways off, but I can't wait until he can play classical music for me.  I'll have my own little personal musician!

Derby Time!

In May, Aiden competed in his first Pinewood Derby!  Dad and Grandpa Rowley helped him make his car.  Aiden did the sanding, some of the painting and added the stickers. 

Here he is with Dad applying a little extra weight before the big race.

 Here's the proud Cub Scout with his car.

 His first heat.

 In the end, he came in second!  Out of like 25 boys!  Pretty darn good if you ask me!

 Here he is with his loot!  He also got a certificate for most futuristic car.

 And here is most of the pack...as many as they could roundup in the chaos of clean up.

Back Row:  Brother Singleton, Baden Buchholzer, Aiden, Wyatt Lively, Sam Peterson, Conner Shumway, Mason Thomas, Hunter Aidair, Kaleb Lee, Daelynd Babbit, Brother Adair

Front Row: Laetner Fischbeck, KennethWylie, Colton, Ethan Duke, Davis Taylor, Jacob Wylie, Jacob Martineau, Ashton Adair, Jace Cluff

I

Princesses on Ice

Back in April, my friend, Julie, invited Mabel and I to go see Disney's Princesses on Ice.  In true Hollie fashion, I forgot my camera!!! Thank goodness for cell phones and their grainy pictures!

We were pretty high up, so no pics of the action on the ice but these are much better:

Mabel, Natalie, and Taylor.  AKA, little cuties!

Here's Jules and her little ladies.

Me and Little Miss Mabel. 

We had a great time!  I bought a $10 bucket of popcorn which Mabel spilled all over the floor when we had about half of it left.  Grin and bear it, right!  But it was neat to see all the princesses.  Mabel was going through a Mulan phase at the time, so she was super excited to see the Mulan part.  I was disappointed by the princess stories they left out, like Sleeping Beauty!  Hello?  A Disney staple and it wasn't included.  Oh well.  It was still neat to see!  Thanks for inviting us, Jules!