4TH of July as promised

This was our first 4Th of July in Utah. We had a blast. I'm sorry it is now a month and a half since the 4Th, it almost seems like I should just skip it and wait until next year... However I have the pictures and I might as well share, right?

It seems like in Provo that the independence day celebrations last a week or so. For us it all started on the 3rd when we woke up early and saw about 20 or 30 hot air balloons take off. It was spectacular.





On the 4Th they flew the balloons once again, we did not see them lift off, but 3 or 4 landed in the park near our house. The kids and I went to watch and actually helped bring some of them down. It was fairly crazy because a large race was happening simultaneously in the park, so there were thousands of people running, waiting for runners and of course the balloons landing. It was pretty fun.

We then rode our bikes down to center street and joined my cousins and watched the 4Th of July parade street side. This is Nancy and Gracie enjoying the festivities!


I love this picture of the kids standing on the street watching a pipe and drum band go by... Lets hear it for "Scotland the Brave!"


After riding our bike uphill all the way home... we headed over to my cousins house and celebrated the nation's and my cousin Julie's birthday with a fantastic BBQ and cake. Later in the afternoon we headed over to my parents condo and dropped of Emma and Grace while Nancy and I and the big kids went to the Stadium of Fire!

The Stadium of Fire is held at the LaVelle Edwards Stadium on BYU campus and was filled to capacity. Miley Cyrus was headlining along with the Blue Man Group and Emceed by Glen Beck. We were not disappointed.

Here we are waiting for the show to begin.

As the show began 4 F-16's from Hill AFB flew about 1500 feet over the stadium with full afterburners lit. It was like an earth quake it was so loud. After that there were 7 Para-jumpers that jumped from about 10,000 feet and all landed in the stadium. Man it was cool!
There was a great flag ceremony... the flag is being held by service men and women from the Utah National Guard that had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a touching moment.


The Blue Man Group was excellent, I would love to see them again. Miley was ok. I don't think I will jump to see her again. Once it got dark the fireworks started choreographed to music from the movies. I have seen a lot of fire work displays including quite a few in Washington DC and I have to say that the Stadium of Fire was the best firework show I have ever seen. It lasted about 45 minutes and it seemed like there were about 7 or 8 finales. When the finale came there was no doubt it was the last hurrah for the evening.

Pictures of fireworks can be really disappointing and the above one is admittedly disappointing and does not capture the feeling at all, but there it is anyway.

What a fun day we had, and we are determined to go to the Stadium of Fire next year again. It was a long day but very memorable. We can't wait for our second 4Th of July in Provo next year.