24th

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  If you are from the South Sevier area, it's all about Pioneer Day.

We made our annual trek to Elsinore for Pioneer Day this year as we have for each year since I left 7 years ago.  My whole family was DYING to see Chapter and teach him that this is clearly the best holiday there is.

 And it is.  Just sayin'.

 Kristy bought Chapter a balloon and he really liked it a lot.

So much so that he fell asleep on the way to the park holding it in the backseat.

Chapter didn't get to play any games this year because he was asleep when the lines were short and by the time he woke up it would have been an hour long wait to ride the fire engine or play the fishing game.  Sorry buddy, maybe next year will be your year:)

Then we went to my mom's and made homemade corn dogs and fries with Logan's mom's top secret corn dog recipe.  (Logan is the one who made it top secret).  They were delicious as always.  Then we drove home late in the afternoon missing the best fireworks show in the state (according to Logan, and I agree) because there are so few places that set them off so close to you that you run the risk of your blanket going up in flames.  It sure does make a nice show though when your whole eyes are exploding with beautiful color.  Again, maybe next year.  

Grandma Deb

Sadly, on July 9 we lost Logan's mom to a long hard 5 year battle with cancer.  It was a pretty rough week for all of us, but especially for her children and husband.  

Her funeral was beautiful and although I feel a little weird posting pictures (and taking them) I know that she would be sorely disappointed if it wasn't documented (that woman was a scrapbooker before scrapbooking was cool).  So this is for you Debbie.

Logan made an incredible video to show outside the viewing.  Amazing.  He did such a good job.

 Chapter was so tired and grumpy.  He finally fell asleep for my sister at the end of the funeral but woke up at the cemetery.  Rough day. But check out the matching ties on those beautiful boys:)

Independence Day

For the 4th this year we went to Kanarraville.  Logan's Granny's old house is still up there and the whole gang (minus Josh and his family) stayed up there the night before.  And it was pretty much the worst least restful night I've had since the one immediately following Chapter's birth.  And that is saying something!  It was hot, noisy and just WAAAAY too many people in that tiny old house.  We finally got to sleep about 2am and Chapter slept fitfully until maybe 5ish.  Yeah.

That morning we went to the parade (Chap's first) and then to the program in the cultural hall.  There was a little boy who did a Napoleon Dynamite dance that was so funny I cried (I was sleepy).   Then we went to Cash's house for the BBQ.  Logan was so excited that he had made some homemade yeast rootbeer to share.  His Granny used to make it every year but they haven't had it since the early 90s.  It's disgusting.  But they were all oooing and aaahing and guzzling the stuff.  It's an "acquired taste".

We headed back to St. George in the late afternoon and staked out our spot on the Black Hill for the fireworks.  We usually go to the park but we thought this would be more Chapter-friendly.  And it was.  It was hot but we had a really good time playing in the car waiting for the fireworks to start.

We even got an ice cream from the ice cream truck! Mine and Chap's first time ever doing that.

Chapter held on until just before the fireworks started and then he fell asleep.  A perfect ending to a fun but exhausting day.

The next morning we went to the splash park because daddy has never been there with us.  I don't know who had more fun:)