July: Utah Vacation Part 4 (4th of July)

I haven't been home for the 4th of July since we moved to Oregon. Because of my sister's wedding, I had a 2 week layover in Utah and ended up being here for all of the festivities. Brian had flown back to Oregon to resume work, planning on joining us for the tail end of our trip. So, while he worked away, we enjoyed ourselves at the Davis City 4th of July Parade. Now, this is no ordinary parade. First of all, it is so small scale that all the floats go the route twice. Secondly, the handouts were amazing! We had stuffed animals, ties, candy, candy, and candy! Plus, they even had free rides to go on and a giant water fight at the end. If I am ever in Utah again on the 4th, this is a must see event.

One of a couple of floats.

The family basking in the shade. My mom's sister introduced us to their favorite parade on the 4th. They made believers out of us.

The kids ready to load up on the free give-a-ways. Also a few adults making sure we got the "good" stuff.


Those oxen were amazing and awesome. This pic was for Brian and Roger. They would have loved being pioneers.

The free events included a giant slide. Andrew was fearless upside down.


Lizzy literally toppled over and over all the way down.

A little martial arts action (Lizzy won).


Then the big girls had a turn (Chelsea and I called it a draw).

Then the parade ended and all the floats lined up for a 3rd time on the route, this time with water ammo for the most amazing city water fight I have ever been a part of...well...I took pictures.


This is my mom and her sister Kathie. A happy day for both of them. My aunt has terminal cancer and this was a great day for making memories.


The crew happy and dry...


Then the water fight began!


I continued to move further and further away from the street.


Nettie was not holding anything back. Watch out crowd, she has a bazooka!

The crew after the fight and very, very, wet.


As if this whole event wasn't enough, after all the floats had gone through the parade route, they loaded all the spare candy onto a helicopter which then dispersed it all over a baseball field. Then it was mayhem as kids rushed the field to get more goodies!

After the parade the festivities continued at my Aunt Kathie's house where my cousin Mark entertained the kids with a homemade slip-n-slide.

All the grandkids loved it.


Even Ethan who fearlessly went belly first.

What a memorable 4th, complete with fireworks at my parents house that night and then a race around Provo, trying to find the best view for the Stadium of Fire fireworks show. Happy 4th of July!

July: Utah Vacation Part 3 (Provo and Salt Lake Fun)

While in Salt Lake, we visited my sister-in-law Liz and her children. Our visit with them was just one day but that was because they were going to be leaving to Oregon that week where we would join up with them for their last 7 days of that trip. While at Liz's house, we let them play on a slip n' slide while Liz and I dined on Cafe Rio'. No trip to Utah is complete without some pork barbaqoa!





My dad was able to get us tickets to the Oquirrh Mtn Temple openhouse. The kids were so thrilled to be able to go inside a temple. I asked Ethan what his favorite part of the temple was and he said, "Jesus's hot tub" and the cows. He was speaking of the baptismal font that rests on top of twelve oxen statues.




After the temple open house, my parents took my kids home and I visited my old work. My former boss and cardiologist, Dale Renlund, has just been called to be a Seventy in our church. He will now be serving our church in South Africa with his wife. He was to retire the week after this visit. It was so good to see him and also to see my dear friend and partner Kismet. She and I were thick as thick could be at work. We worked so well together whether it was caring for patients or writing care process models for the IHC system. Boy was it a fun ride! It was good to see them and especially Dale since I might not see him for a very long time.


I returned home to find my mother on the fence picking cherries, throwing them down to the many onlookers including my own children. I told my mom she wasn't doing a very good job of being an example of not climbing in trees, on ladders or fences.


She commented that the end result of cherries was worth it. Ethan agreed.


My mom took off her wig and let the kids try a new look. What I was surprised by was the fact that Ethan looked just like Chelsea as a kid with that wig on!




Then it was off to Chuck-E-Cheese for our annual trip to spend money on worthless games and even more worthless tickets to get that prized prize, the cherished cheap toy or tootsie roll. Regardless, every time we go there the kids are so excited. They love this place. Ethan says, "I love Yuck-E-Cheese." Mom and dad agree.


Fastest finger is an addicting game that all my sisters and mother are totally addicted to when we go to Chuck-E-Cheese.



Ethan hurling a ball as high and hard as he can.




Is it cheating when your two year old is running up the runway?


After Chuck-E-Cheese we kept with nostalgia and took a trip to Brick Oven for some yummy pizza, pasta, and balloons. It was great that some of my siblings were able to join us for these festivities.






The balloon man dazzled us with Belle, Buzz Light Year, a Poodles, and Spiderman!



By the end of the night Ethan was exhausted and completely passed out eating a bowl of cereal on a stool at the kitchen table.

July: Utah Vacation Part 2 (Provo and Salt Lake Visits)

Following the wedding of Christina and Ben, I stayed in Utah for 2 weeks to attend a family reunion and spend time with my family. I made every effort not to visit anyone outside of my family, as I had not had a trip to Utah in a long time where I was able to just spend time with my mother. By doing this, I felt like I wasn't rushing from here to there, and my mom loved every minute of it.

On the day after the wedding, Chelsea and her fiance Darren along with my dog Artemisia decided to tag along with us on a stroll up to Bridal Veil Falls.

I couldn't keep the kids out of the water. They all had to explore.

Even Uncle Russell, Aunt Nicole, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Andrew, and Aunt Nettie tagged along.

Ethan didn't get in the water. He prefered Uncle Andrew's back.


There is nothing like Utah mountains.Then we went up to Squaw Peak to look over the utah valley. I was able to point out to my kids where I grew up, went to school, and played. The kids loved it.

My baby brother Russell and his wife Nicole (5 months pregnant and barely showing).

Then, on Monday it was off to Toodie's for a visit. We went over and saw what Katie had done to her home and had a barbeque.


The kids enjoyed visiting while Ethan passed out on Katie's bed. Once again, he can pass out anywhere, anytime.After the barbeque we headed to Tooele to watch my brother-in-law Brett's amazing skills as a softball player. He had quite the audience at the game and no Woolley has even been known to be quiet.

Dyana was a very proud wife (and also very pregnant at 5 months). Her feet looked like tree trunks!

Brett did great at short stop and also had some fantastic hits. His team was playing my mom's cousin's team so it was a mini family reunion.



After the game, Brett and Dyana invited all of us over for a root bear float. They just built a home in Tooele and let me just say this. No newlywed couple should be able to start life like this! Plush! Of course, they remind me they were "older" and had degrees and "real jobs!"
Lizzy finished every last drop! It was a very fun day!