Pioneer Days Celebration

Bountiful Parade to watch Amanda and the KSL float.

Friday evening, July 23: This was our first experience, so to be prepared I got on the Bountiful parade website and printed off the list and order of parade entrants, to which there were about 135, that filled five pages. Stan and I found a small tree next to the Arts Center, and settled into our folding chairs to wait, dutifully checking off each numbered entrant, waiting for #85, the listing for KSL. Turning to the second page we were surprised to see a listing for Gov. Mike Leavitt followed by Lt. Gov. Olene Walker, just about the time that current Gov. Herbert's car went by. The published list we had was from 2003! Fortunately, Danny was texting us from his spot in the route with the Butterfields, to let us know that Amanda would be #62, so we watched the numbers, sans our outdated list.  Amanda was the best part of the parade!

Days of '47 Parade
Saturday, 9 a.m., we went to our usual place, in front of Ryan's work, Wasatch Advisors, on 200 East and Social Hall Avenue. We were surprised by the crowds, many of whom camped out right in our spot. Surprising because it's on the west side, the sunny side, where people don't usually like to be, but these people had set up tents. We sat under a tree and had plenty of shade, just had to look around the tents. The KSL float was #41 this time, and Amanda was riding instead of walking and throwing candy (no candy allowed in this parade). However, she did have Danny come up to the float and get some candy for the kids.  Stan said, and we all agreed, the floats this year were better than ever! Parker stayed out with Grammy and Grandpa the whole time, while everyone else spent part of the time in the third floor conference room with the air conditioning, watching out the windows.

This People's Choice winning float, was our favorite. Seagulls and crickets...

 
Then came Amanda on the KSL float with other TV Anchors.  She's our favorite news anchor though. Danny went up to the float to get Amanda's surprise treat for us......candy.

Here's the happy crew of parade goers. Our family tradition.  Thanks to Ryan, we can enjoy added comfort, too.









Swimming at the Snow's after the parade

Amanda and Danny set up their version of Old Faithful: a liter of Diet Coke and 7 Mentos dropped in simultaneously. The boys were cautious at first.

We all thought it was pretty cool!

Amanda's parents own a children's scientific/educational toy company. This was a Mentos holder with a string that releases the candies into the soda pop. It's an immediate reaction.

The next trick was making SNOW.  White, fine powder with water poured on, bubbled up into puffy, dry snow that was room temperature. That was really fun, and amazing, also.

Henry wasn't too sure about Grammy's request to get close to Ava

Thanks Ryan and Ashlee, for your hospitality.  We had fun, especially for a 99 degree day.
We were amazed at the apricot tree that has more apricots than leaves.....good luck picking them all.