Here in Utah it’s the 24th of July–or better yet, it’s Pioneer day!. Well, I guess it’s Pioneer day (as well as the 24th of July) in other areas, too, but maybe they don’t celebrate it there.

We had a fantastic ward breakfast this morning; sponsored by the Elders. It’s usually a great and fun event, but this year it was ramped up a bit by including a primary activity. After the breakfast, the primary kids were all invited to walk in the “pioneer parade”. By parade, I mean walk around the track that surrounds the 1/2 acre or so that is the front yard of the neighbor’s house (no, this one was not at my house). They actually have a little bike trail built in. Along the way, they had to go through “winter quarters” (which was a little sign that said Winter Quarters and there were some blocks of ice on the ground), and then cross the “Sweetwater river” (which was a little kiddie pool filled with water). But if they didn’t feel like walking through the “river”, or if they had a handcart or something like that, they could just go around. Eventually, they reached the Salt Lake Valley and there was a sign that said “This is the place”, and they all got a cute handcart shaped sugar cookie. I don’t think the real pioneers were greeted with sugar cookies when they arrived, but that would have been nice for them, wouldn’t it? Hello, Brigham Young! We understand you’ve had a long walk and lost some of your travelers along the way to disease and Indian attacks. You are tired and sick and have no supplies, and this dreadful desert with nothing but scrub oak and a bunch of tumbleweeds is your new home. Have a cookie!
Some of the kids dresses up in pioneer clothing, and my kids and Robin’s kids (with a little help from Robin) even made a “handcart” from the bike trailer/jogger and some cardboard boxes. It turned out very very cute, and John enjoyed riding on it and waving, just like in a real parade! I thought it was funny that a lot of the boys didn’t want to participate in the parade, saying that it was just for little kids. They would rather play basketball. I made a comment to one of the other parents that it was too bad those boys didn’t make the trek to the Salt Lake Valley. He said, “Yep, they joined the militia back in Nauvoo and played basketball instead of crossing the plains.”
The grand finale of the event was when the Lone Peak Fire Fighters showed up with a huge truck, and sprayed all the kids with water. Those hoses really put out a LOT OF WATER! It’s so much more impressive seeing one in action close up, rather than on the news. They watered the kids and whoever was in the path of the water until the grass was so wet and splashy. They won’t have to water their lawn for a few days! There was not a dry kid in sight. It was so much fun! (look here for more pictures)
Tonight we have a family barbecue. We are making devilled eggs (Megan’s specialty), baked beans, and chocolate chip cookies. The rain clouds are moving in, however, and I hope it doesn’t rain on us. No, actually, I just hope it doesn’t rain in Spanish Fork, and I hope it rains and rains and rains here, at my house, from now until Thursday afternoon. What? A girl can hope, can’t she?

Happy Pioneer Day!

Oh, and did anyone else by any chance hear the Gold’s Gym Radio commercial? The one with “Arnold Schwarzeneger?” The one where he sings, ‘Pioneer children walked to Gold’s Gym, Gold’s Gym, Gold’s Gym, GOLD’S GYm’? I’m still laughing about it!