Our Country's Birthday

If you are raised in Provo then you come to look forward every year to the 4th of July.  The celebration is always started with a cannon going off early in the morning.  I loved that and always listened for it.  Then off to the parade down Center Street with the jets flying right down the parade route.  Talk about your heart swelling in pride for this amazing country.  Of course the Colorguard started the parade with the American Flag waving in the breeze.  Our family would always get together in the afternoon and go up Provo Canyon for dinner.  What fabulous childhood memories.  After marriage we continued to gather for the parade and then to Hintze's for dinner and visiting.  Firecrackers, cap guns and water fights were always part of the festivities.  Even after my life change, gathering on the 4th was always a tradition.  We continued to celebrate by going up to Midway for a barbecue and games and then watching the amazing fireworks in Lila Mae's driveway.  She was right across the street from the Memorial Hill so we had front row seats every year.  Now that Lila Mae is gone we still continue to gather on the 4th at my house.  This year we had Gertsons, Cutlers and Tucker.  We had hoagie buns with all the trimmings along with Maren's famous pasta salad and Lynda Ann's famous pinwheel cookies.  We played table games until after midnight.  It was a great day and a fun celebration.  

Lynda Ann's famous 4th of July cookies.

Neal and I drove to Centerville to see Nelden's family in the parade.  They are always clowns every year and we've never seen them.  It was fun to see the small parade and see Nelden's family all decked out in clown attire.  Neal and Nelden.  

Every year for as long as I can remember, I would have a picture taken of Lila Mae and I on the 4th.  Well Lila Mae is not with us so I told Annie that from now on the tradition will be a picture of she and I on the 4th.   This is our first 4th of July picture.  We were actually in Midway at a bakery.  We had just had lunch with Susan.  Annie and I do have such fun together.  It is always an adventure of fun and laughter.  Sure love this daughter of mine.