The July Holidays

Because we live in Utah, we get two holidays in July... yippee! Clint calls the bonus one "Polygamy Day" but most locals know it as Pioneer Day since it marks the day the Mormon settlers, escaping persecution from Illinois because of their practice of polygamy among other things, decided that THIS is the place.

The 4th of July was marked with a family BBQ with slip-n-slide action for the kids at my sister's house on Friday (since no one had to work) followed by neighborhood fireworks the next night on the actual holiday after we had eaten at our favorite Mexican food place. One of our neighbors pointed out how kind of ridiculous that is to eat MEXICAN food on the holiday marking the birth of our nation - we hadn't really given a shit since the food is killer and we don't care what day of the year it is!

The crazy cousins posing for photos

Erin doesn't like to actually "slide" on the slip-n-slide... what a princess

In line for the slip-n-slide
I had to include this photo of my brother in a never-before-captured-on-film moment... witness the "Ruoti Belch"

The 24th of July was kind of low-key with Erin dragging me to a neighborhood breakfast (while Daddy worked on a stucco project) at the ungodly hour of 9am - ON SATURDAY - so she could ride her bike around the block with her friends in the kid's parade. I guess it beats her wanting to go to the ACTUAL parade which would have taken much more effort on my part. The first person to actually inform my child that such a thing exists in our city will most likely get shot so be forewarned! After the rest of a leisurely day, we did more fireworks with the neighbors.

Me and Ace - making root beer floats in folding chairs... what talent!

The men... and their adult beverages quietly enjoyed while the 12-year old performed the annual pyromania show

Erin, right before her smile was wiped off her face because she couldn't have a sleepover

The kids toting the fireworks to the road

The Finale!