July 4th

July 4th was different for us this year in away. We never go up to the fair grounds for breakfast and stuff so that was the same. Actually Mendis tried to start that years ago but he never really got many takers from the family to go up there bright and early on a day off so it died out fast. We heard about the free fireworks at the smoke shop again this year and that is a must do now for us. A couple of years ago we went out there when they first got it going and it was a mad house. Complete chaos. It was so much fun though. People were lighting off fireworks everywhere you looked. We even drove over a couple of launch pads by mistake because we couldn't even tell that's what it was. There were so many people lighting off huge fireworks that you couldn't even tell when the official show started because it was mass fireworks. So when it really started people kept on lighting theirs so it was crazy!! Seriously crazy but alot of fun so we were looking forward to it this year.
Last year it was alot more under control and even more so this year. Gone are the days of random fires catching out in the dessert and stuff. What  bummer. It was so under control it wasn't much fun really. There were official launching pads and people were parked in straight lines and everything. Buzz kill. Get this...I even got into trouble because I was doing sparklers in the parking lot with Rees & Cooper. Wow this has changed. So we watched the free show which was great and just went home. It was fun this year to have Ashley & Benjy join us but the grand adventure is so tame now. I am glad we got to witness the few rowdy years because it was hilarious if not a little dangerous.

"The guys" watching from the back of our pickup

Rees

Cooper...he was banished to his car for awhile since he wouldn't sit on anyone's lap and wanted to wander off. It was great until he got into the carmel corn and smeared it all over their car.

So this all happened the weekend before the 4th. For the official holiday we went up to Rob & Beth's for a yummy barbeque.  It was a great evening. When we got home we went walking and didn't even feel like going up to the fairgrounds for the fireworks so ..we didn't! Wow what rebels we are. We watched them on our walk and enjoyed them from afar.

Camp & the Hickman Reunion

Girl's camp was a day longer this year for our stake but not for me. I had to work. So Mendis and I went up on Thursday to join in the fun. We were late leaving because Mendis had to look up some parts online for the generator up there. When we finally got on the road we got stuck in the gorge behind a semi that burnt to the ground. We were stuck there for about an hour and a half! When we finally pulled in it was almost dark again! Someday we are going to get there earlier. So we set up our tent and got settled. It was nice and cool up there compared to here so I loved it. Lots of people thought it was too hot but I knew what we had just left behind so I was enjoying the change. We managed to visit almost all the camps which is no small feat because there are so many. We enjoyed watching the girls have fun up there especially on the cope course. It was a blast watching the leaders go down the water slide they made on the hill by the amphitheater. Too messy for me and I didn't want Mendis to trash his knee any worse than it already is. It was a fun girls camp and I am  really glad we made it up there. There were problems as always: a girl passed out and had to be flighted to the hospital when her vitals were eratic in the ambulance. That was pretty nerve racking but I think she is okay now.

The day girls' camp ended was the day of the Hickman family reunion. So although we tried to hustle on home early we were one of the last ones out waiting for the flight helicopter etc. We got home and after a quick shower rushed down to the Old Overton gym for lunch. There was an awesome turnout. Ashley & Benjy and the boys came out from Vegas to meet the family. Mike & Kathy & two of their kids were there. We saw Gary & Karla and their kids, and Clayton and all the Mendis' aunts from the Hickman side. We were really glad we went.

After the Reunion we had a bbq at our house with Charlie and Alisha and Ashley's family. It was a great day.

Everyone