weekend round-up

Like many other states in our wonderful nation, Utah has a state holiday. July 24, or Pioneer Day,  symbolizes the day the state was settled. I like that Utah's state holiday is at the end of July. Thus an extra holiday before school starts and summer is officially *gasp* over. Besides, it is fun to have an extra excuse to get together with family and chill. We love it. 

The weekend started off with a mile fun run Saturday morning.

It was really cute how the Primary presidency had it set up. They registered each person entering the race and gave everyone a race number. There were different divisions of registration: a bike group, a stroller group, an over 60 group, etc. The kids in the primary also got to decorate signs that were set up along the race route. This is the one Mase and Omi did:


Very Picasso-esque...don't you think?


The kids loved crossing the finish line and having people cheer them on. There was even a water/fruit snack station halfway through the race set up by the Relief Society. Mase said the water helped his legs go faster.

Apparently the water really helped! At the pancake breakfast afterward, prizes were given and Mase was awarded first place in the bike division. Grandpa won first place in the 60 and over division. Both were very proud:

Next on the agenda: Bear Lake. The weather was perfectly hot for a day at the lake. We had fun chilling on the beach while the kids played in the water:


Apparently all of northern Utah and southern Idaho had the same idea:



Leesie was smart and stayed under the tent/umbrella with me:


And, of course, we had to stop at LaBeau's after our time at the beach for a burger, fries and a raspberry shake. I pity anyone who has never eaten at LaBeau's. Yes, I pity you. And your little dog too.
We ended the night with a movie (Despicable Me) at the park and then a fireworks show after.

Even though July 24 (the official holi-day) was Sunday, Monday was officially recognized as the day of celebration. Yes, Sunday is even recognized as sacred in Utah by the state government, a "day of rest", and any holiday that falls on a Sunday is not celebrated until the day after. Local and state businesses even get to shut down to par-tay. It works out though because a day off from work is much more fun than not.

We started out the day with a parade (can you tell we can't get enough of parades??):


The best thing about small town parades is the loads and loads of candy that is thrown/chucked/aimed at us. We got away with a bag full of loot that even Garfield would be proud of. And a parade is not a parade without  the floats and everything else considered "parade-worthy" (i.e. Model-T Fords and other classic cars, flat-bed trucks, tractors, Firetrucks). Here is a group dressed like pioneers:


Parade floats like these remind me I am home:





A BBQ after and a ukulele sing-along topped off the day:


And last, but certainly not least: