Pionerd Day Week

Before I begin briefly detailing our Pioneer Day adventures, I snapped this photo of Kyle and Jordon's boy, Isaac the day of the children's parade on the park. It ran the week following the 24th in The Richfield Reaper as the front page feature picture with the title "Leaving a Legacy."

Jordon was in town for a few weeks around that time with Isaac and their daughter Attison, and we spent some time with them and Jordon's family. It was great, especially for Annie to see Jordon and the two kids.

We don't see the Cecils as often as we'd like to, but it was fun to see how big those kids are getting and hang out with Jordon — Kyle, you missed out, man. I missed you.

And speaking of friends, Annie had her high school reunion the afternoon of the 23rd — it's been something she has looked forward to since my five year reunion never really happened two years ago. She is a nut about keeping up with people in different ways, and she loves talking about how much fun she had with her friends in high school.

Her reunion was great, and pictures and details are up on her classes blog —  

classof2003sshs.blogspot.com

And now for the main course — Pioneer Day festivities in Monroe.

The 24th always begins a day early in Monroe with the children's parade and the city barbecue on the city park. Grandma and Grandpa Colton met us on Main Street by the library for the parade, and fifteen minutes later we found ourselves wandering over to the other end of the park to get in line for the barbecue, which consists of slow-roasted shredded beef, frog-eye salad (that's what my mom always calls it, I have no idea if anyone else does or not), baked beans, a roll, watermelon (Monroe City had 1,000 lbs. of it this year), and water piped in through hoses — delicious.

 

Sophia loved the water, and kept stealing Grandpa Colton's from his styrofoam cup. She got some, anyway, between what went in her mouth and what went down the front of her it's hard to tell how much she actually drinks. Anyway, it was silly to watch her stealing sips from Grandpa until she decided she wanted to take a bite of the cup with a drink.

Luckily both Annie and her mom noticed she had taken a chunk out of the cup (I was to busy photographing everything in sight), and got it out of her mouth before she had a chance to swallow it. 

The barbecue was fun, but the parade the next morning was hot and long. It seemed like it wasn't too much different than recent Pioneer Day parades — full of horses, John Deere tractors, restored and not-so-restored classic cars, high school activities and Rep. McIff.

Though I can't say much for the parade, Annie and Sophia were both looking great, as always. Annie in the above picture go this new shirt in Orem just a few weeks before when she went up there with her mom. Sophia, in the photo below, enjoyed most of the parade with Grandpa Colton wherever they could find a little bit of shade.

After the parade we went to the park where there are a bunch of activities, lunch and people you only see once a year. We saw quite a few people we don't ever see except for on the park again this year, and Sophia got to pet a dog some lady had at the park — she loves dogs, and giggles when she even gets near them, let alone petting them.

The night was capped off with the town's firework display at the South Sevier Middle School football field. We met up there with Jordon, Beau Dunn, Chealsea Price and plenty of other people from Annie's reunion. After the fireworks, Annie was getting Sophie to give everyone high fives. Then, as Annie and Sophia were saying goodbye to Jordon, Isaac and Attison, Isaac bent down and kissed Sophie right on the lips. My baby's first kiss – some fireworks after the fireworks, you might say.

During the middle of the afternoon we went to my mom's house and Sophia and Brynlie went swimming together in a froggie pool my mom bought for them. I thought I'd post up those pictures separately, just for fun.