Small Town 4th of July

Sitting along main street waiting for the parade to start...(oops I cut Susan off...) The parade started with 4 jets flying in formation right down main street then they turned around and came back. What a thrill to watch them, it just makes you feel so patriotic!

Rachel has been taking a "flag/marching band" class this summer and they marched with the High School band in the parade. She has had a lot of fun learning to twirl the flags. She didn't love the 2 mile walk but did great! It was a bit on the warm side thus the red faces but they did a good job!

One of many cool cars....

Dippy the Dinosaur..you know for "Dinosaurland"

There is nothing like a small town 4th of July parade. Although a major part of it is the fire engines and police cars running their sirens there is still alot of candy throwing, water fighting and horses.

After the parade we went home and relaxed then the whole family assembled at Aunt Linda's for a BBQ. Right as Clark was starting to cook the meat it started to pour down rain but it was just a brief storm and we were able to eat outside. Then the older cousins all piled into cars and went to the fireworks while the few younger ones....Jenna, Zach and Joe stayed and lit fireworks. We had a great view of many different places lighting off fireworks all over the valley. After we got home Spencer let Jenna light off a few fire crackers. She was in heaven. We did miss Brad however since he is such a firework nut but none the less. it was a fun day!

Rainbows and rainbow trout

I woke up one morning to a beautiful "full double rainbow...." It was too big to get all in a picture so I had to settle for part of it. The wind was blowing just a bit and it was raining. I sat in the swing with a blanket on and watched the storm....

Later in the week Jenna and Spencer went fishing with Grandpa Kendall. Jenna was thrilled to go. I don't know if her "loudness" scared off the fish... Grandpa seemed to be the only one with the ability to actually catch something.
Grandpa hasn't had anyone to fish with for a few years and I think he is really happy that he has some fishing buddies now.

Does she look happy or what?

Life just doesn't get any better than this huh?

Jenna turns 9!

True to her personality, Jenna did NOT want any kind of a "girly" cake whatsoever!! She decided upon an Indian T P ...Oh nice!!! hmmmm how do you make a TP? Well I did my best... here are the results... Thanks to grandma for the little Indian people and horses which made it look much more like a TP ....I actually think it looks closer to a Yurt....

another view...Jenna acting the part of an Indian...thus the feathers held up behind her head complete with the "oo oooh oooh" sounds....Waiting to blow the candles out. She was thrilled with all her gifts...Shannon got her a soccer ball and football

Michelle got her a Lava lamp, Spencer and I got her a CD player, Grandma's and Grandpa's gave her money, Keith and Nathan gave her a Mario Kart game for her DS, Aunt Linda gave her a "skip it" and a hoppy horse thing and Aunt Susan gave her a bubbles wand and something else...it escapes me now but she was one happy girl!!!

Michelle's 1st date

Michelle and Dalton

On Shannon's graduation day/night Michelle went on her "first" date! Wow! It is so weird having her old enough to do that now! She went with several other couples in the day time four wheeling and then after graduation they all went to the "stomp" (dance) She was thrilled that he was her first date. She had another one with a guy named Kyle just a day or two later.... heaven help me....my girls are too cute!!!! yikes!!! I need a bat to beat the boys away!! As luck would have it good old Uncle Clark was here and he asked Dalton "hey, I need to know if you kiss on the first date" (the room was full of family... poor michelle! ) but He answered no so Uncle Clark let him take her.

Another graduate...

The traditional Block U picture...ya, you can't tell who is who...Receiving her diploma (at the practice so you can get a close up shot)This is Shannon and her good friend Sarahher walk in partner was CameronThis is a pic of her just after she graduated for "real" taken from way up in the stands....Happy girl with her diploma....at home after it was all over...

It truly seems like just a few weeks ago that Brad was graduating from Higley High. Now Shan has joined the ranks of High School graduates. It has been a huge year of change for her. She moved 700 miles away from the state she has called home from the day she was born. Moved to a small town (with no shopping she would want me to add...) and started her senior year with a smile on her face....ok, maybe not a big smile... She is an amazing young woman. She was able to adjust and make lots of friends. She had her ups and downs but continues to climb ever higher to achieve her goals. Although I think she would have liked to graduate as a Williamsfield Blackhawk, she will forever be a Uintah Ute.... Rock on Class of 2011!! Love you Shan!!