My 4th of July Journal

Thursday, July 1st:
Arrive in Wyoming with my fam and sister Sue.
Good food.
Games.
Bed by 4:30 am.



Friday, July 2nd:
Saw the rest of the Utah fam arrive midday.

Games.

Dusk.

First order of business- Fireworks. I come from a family of pyros. Maybe that's why they ended up in a state that sells the best and scariest fireworks you can find? Luckily, to make it even better, my sister and her fam live just barely out of city limits- this means that even the fireworks that may be illegal to light, are legal to light at their house.

Daddy and cookie protecting the baby.

This is Milo. Milo is old. Milo is deaf. Milo comes alive these days but once a year. That day is the 4th of July. He is so cute and funny to watch. He gets as close as possible to them and barks his old man bark in delight. Then he barks at the neighbor's fireworks.
Dog pyro.

Must be a particularly loud firework judging from everyone's reactions (especially the babies). I include my reaction. I may look blase about it, but I suspect I am being momma bear checking to make sure the cub is protected adequately by papa bear.
(Zero in on this picture (click it). Allison (the baby on the right) looks terrified for her life! (Yet so cute). She grew to love them.)

The pyros running for cover

This is the original pyro--- Too cool to run? Unflappable? Too old? You decide.

Later that night...............

2nd order of business: Upholding the tradition of seeing the next Twilight movie with the fam. Happy to report it is MUCH better then the others. Hooray for that! We were left wondering however why the guy with the individually wrapped Sun Chips stayed home. We missed you dude. Ah well, maybe we'll catch you next time at Breaking Dawn. And who gave the theater permission to fix that really loud generator so it was whisper quiet?

When I got home I was greeted with the cutest sight I have
seen in a long time...

Ok, seriously-- how cute is my little family?

When I said "movie with the fam" that did not include Rob. He wouldn't touch this movie with a ten foot movie ticket.

Good food. Games.

Bed by 4 am.

Saturday, July 3rd:
Up early: White water rafting. Map of our route painted on the sidewalk. Pugh Waves was spotted.

Scout is helpfully pointing that out.

Let us all forget that I walked onto the bus with my helmet on backwards saying, (loudly) "these helmets are really uncomfortable".

Here is a pic of my boat and crew.
Look at Matt. (click it for full effect)

Boat and crew #2.

As you can see, the scenery wasn't pretty at all.

This wasn't my boat.
I think that one might have got them wet.

This was a serious blast. Thanks to Amy and Scott for orchestrating it. Thanks again to Amy for watching my girls and sacrificing hitting the rapids (for a second time in 3 weeks).

Thermopolis after wards for lunch and bridge swinging.

Our attempt at recreating this pic taken about 6 years earlier in the same spot:

Except this time we weren't all rivery nasty.

6 of my 7 siblings together. Missed Ben this trip. We'll just have to all get together again.
Darn it.

My Bean.

Back in one piece. Some went fishing.

Rob caught the catch of the day:I'm not being sarcastic here. He is the only one that got a bite.
Way to go babe!

Off to the local fireworks show. You might think a local fireworks show in a small town in Wyoming with homemade fireworks done by a dentist (by trade) sounds laughable. Not so. The is one of the most spectacular fireworks shows I have ever seen. This guy makes some seriously cool fireworks set to music. Never mind the ash rain shower.
Just one person from the group got a burn mark on her clothes.
Just one with hot ash in her eye.
Wyoming and fireworks: awesome combo.


Good food.

Games.

Bed by 3 am or so (come on! We'd had a big day).

Sunday, July 4th:

We all turned into baby birds. Except for Amy. She be mama bird.

Meep meep meep meep

Games.

Rob leaves for Utah. I stay with the kids to leave on Wed with Matt and B.

Church.

Games:

See The Kids Were All Wright for an explanation of this game. You will thank me later at your next party.


Good food.
Matt.

Star gazing. Dave brought his awesome telescope and set it up.
Venus: check.
Saturn: check (it really does have rings!).
Star clusters: check.
Jupiter and 3 of it's moons: check.
Saw Jupiter's lines: check.



Amazing.

Thanks Dave.

Telescope.
And Alex doing what?

Games.

Hoses.

Bed by............ I don't even want to know. We did see dawn and heard the birds chirping though.

Monday and Tuesday the 5th and 6th:

A Haze of good food, games, hoses, naps, Pixies rock band, Mexican Cokes, fireworks, I believe Amy had to leave us to pick up the kids from the movies during a game and played it on the phone as to not miss a thing. Haha. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!

Wednesday, July 7th:

Yummy sandwiches at yummy Riverton restaurant (for 2nd time that trip... Same sandwich.)
Driving home with Matt and B.
Modest Mouse.
The Moth Podcast.
Little America.
Pixies.
Worst jerky ever.

Home to My Favorite.


Reality. Ah man! Where's mamma bird?





Meep meep meep


Pride and Prejudice.

Pixies.

Matt.