Pioneer Day 2010

So, I've never really been one to celebrate Utah's Pioneer Day. Way back when, while I was in high school, I had to march in that parade twice. It's always SOOO hot and I think the route is about 300 miles long and when you are marching, it becomes 600 miles long. I usually watch the parade on television in air conditioning. We've usually done the family barbecues and such, but it was more of a way to get together with family than anything.

This year was different. There were no get togethers. There were no barbecues. Ted is a huge fan of fireworks and there was no way I was going to fight the horrendous crowds at Liberty Park, which ended up being a good thing since those fireworks were shut down early. A couple of days before, I had a thought occur to me and I broached the subject with Crystal. She decided it was a great idea, too. When we found out that Brandon would probably be in town for the day, we met up and bought tickets in the early afternoon and then we went and did a little shopping. We separated and went to get ready for our celebration.

We picked up KayeLynn and got onto the train. We wanted to get there early and get a good spot. It was already really crowded when we got there. What were we doing?? We were going to the Salt Lake Bee's baseball game. We had general admission tickets that sat on the grass. The game started at 7:05 and we were in direct sunlight until about 8:00. It was so hot that all I could feel until the sun went down was the sweat dripping down my back and butt. The blanket we were sitting on was soaked from us sweating like crazy. Crystal and Brandon had a problem and didn't get there until 8:00, so they missed all the hot and sweat. The game was a complete blow out - Salt Lake won 16 to 1. It was crazy. We ate nachos and pretzels and snow cones and pop corn and M & M's. We had the most fun. At one point, Crystal and I took the kids to the bathroom. Chelsea came into the stall with me. I pulled down my sweaty shorts to do my business and all I hear behind me is Chelsea tellng me, "Coco, you have a big, big butt". Good thing I was in the position I was in, because I started laughing so hard I probably would have wet myself.

We were sitting in a part of the grass that when the game was over, we had to move down to the ball field to watch the fireworks show that was planned after the game. So, this group of about 400 people slowly made their way to where we could all set up on the field. It was an amazing fireworks show. Probably one of the best I've see other than Stadium of Fire and Disneyland. They had music playing on the loud speakers while they shot off this amazing show.

This was the most fun. The only way it would have been perfect would have been if Raja and Rustie could have joined us - but, Raja was working and Rustie was on her way home from Colorado. Maybe some other time they will be able to join us - because I think this needs to become a family tradition for sure!!!