Tuesday, June 29th, we headed up to Salt Lake for a tour of the Sweet's Candy Factory. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it. We got to see how they made salt-water taffy, jelly beans, an old fave of mine--orange and raspberry sticks, and my newest love--chocolate-covered cinnamon bears. We all donned blue hairnets while touring the facility and enjoyed samples of all kinds of candy while watching demonstrations of how each item is made and packaged. When the tour was done, we hit the gift shop for Buy 1, Get 1 Free taffy boxes, Buy 1, Get 1 Free boxes of chocolate almonds, and pounds of chocolate cinnamon bears to bring home at a great price. It was definitely a Sweet day!
My four little candy-makers
The next few days were spent shopping at my favorite Utah stores, running errands, relaxing, talking until the wee hours of the morning, watching movies and seeing Toy Story 3, holding a brand new little nephew, and letting kids run wild outside catching bugs, riding bikes, playing games, and just being kids with dirty faces, feet, and hands.
On Friday evening, July 2nd, we had a yummy picnic of Subway sandwiches, chips, watermelon, and cookies and then hiked up Battle Creek Canyon to a fun waterfall. The kids loved posing for pictures on every rock and near every tree so it took quite a while for all of us to get to the top but it was great. A cool breeze was blowing and the kids did a lot of screaming since that breeze kicked up some spray while they were checking out the waterfall. It was a great way to cool off after a hike up the mountain!
On Friday evening, July 2nd, we had a yummy picnic of Subway sandwiches, chips, watermelon, and cookies and then hiked up Battle Creek Canyon to a fun waterfall. The kids loved posing for pictures on every rock and near every tree so it took quite a while for all of us to get to the top but it was great. A cool breeze was blowing and the kids did a lot of screaming since that breeze kicked up some spray while they were checking out the waterfall. It was a great way to cool off after a hike up the mountain!
The hiking cousins: Jax, Ty, Sierra, Kate, Madi, Carlee, Brooke, Clark, Jake
Hiding in the cave
Carlee enjoying cuddles from Grandma
Down the mountain with Grandpa
Saturday, July 3rd, was the day I was most excited for. We had scored some military discounts to Stadium of Fire at Lavell Edwards Stadium at BYU and the special guest was Carrie Underwood, who is one of my favorites. I was so excited to see the show and she is such a classy gal. It has been years since I've been to the Stadium of Fire and I couldn't wait to experience it with my own children. Plus, we had been practicing all of Carrie's songs on the drive up!
The program was really special to me this year because they had all of the individual military services march onto the field one at a time to their respective theme song while the audience members who currently serve or have served in that branch stood up for recognition. There were tears in my eyes as the Air Force was announced and I was proud of my husband and all of our dear military friends that have been to the war and are currently serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. My sister shared the same emotions as her husband left one week earlier to serve for the National Guard in Iraq for 12 months. I can't explain the emotions of patriotism, pride and gratitude that I have now as an American citizen since my husband got that opportunity to serve our country during a war just barely over a year ago. And I am so proud of our great friends that we have met and know through the military that have had that same opportunity and take it without shame or negligence. Thank you, dear friends and family, that serve our country both at home and abroad.
One of my favorite moments was listening to Carrie Underwood sing the national anthem and during her ending note, four F-16 fighter jets flew over the stadium. It was awesome and even better was the pilot's face suddenly showing up on the screen proclaiming his pride and gratitude for our country and his fellow service members while he continued flying the jet! It was amazing.
Lou Diamond Phillips was our Master of Ceremonies and did a fabulous job at the patriotic readings and introductions of all of the performers: the Five Browns, children in a family that all play the piano and performed a Star Wars medley, Jenny Oaks Baker, an amazing violinist, the Osmonds-Second Generation, a family of singers, and of course, Carrie Underwood. There was also a great tribute to the Boy Scouts of America and about 200 Eagle Scouts were honored during a special ceremony. Eagle Scouts in the audience were also honored and recognized for their hard work and dedication to the scouting program.
Lou Diamond Phillips
The Five Browns
Jenny Oaks Baker and the Eagle Scouts ceremony
Carrie Underwood
After Carrie Underwood's performance, the stadium lit up with fireworks and my kids were in awe at the sight. They were all wide awake and had been singing and dancing to all of the music and I loved watching their faces light up under the glow of the fireworks. It was a wonderful night and I'm so glad that we made the drive to see the show. The kids were even wonderful walking all the way back to the car. They didn't complain or ask to be carried once, even though they were completely exhausted and fell asleep about 5 minutes into the car ride. What sweet children!
One of my favorite moments was listening to Carrie Underwood sing the national anthem and during her ending note, four F-16 fighter jets flew over the stadium. It was awesome and even better was the pilot's face suddenly showing up on the screen proclaiming his pride and gratitude for our country and his fellow service members while he continued flying the jet! It was amazing.
Lou Diamond Phillips was our Master of Ceremonies and did a fabulous job at the patriotic readings and introductions of all of the performers: the Five Browns, children in a family that all play the piano and performed a Star Wars medley, Jenny Oaks Baker, an amazing violinist, the Osmonds-Second Generation, a family of singers, and of course, Carrie Underwood. There was also a great tribute to the Boy Scouts of America and about 200 Eagle Scouts were honored during a special ceremony. Eagle Scouts in the audience were also honored and recognized for their hard work and dedication to the scouting program.
Lou Diamond Phillips
The Five Browns
Jenny Oaks Baker and the Eagle Scouts ceremony
Carrie Underwood
1 comment:
You should have called us. Next time you better.
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