Forth of July

We started the 4th of July holiday weekend with a new camping location. Normally, the annual Jack & Lois Price Reunion is held up at East Canyon. Although, the spring run off water took the bridge away and we were not able to get to the camping site we had reserved. BUMMER. A little bit of scrambling to find camping space for over 100 people, but we found something~ Willow Park Campground in Lehi. Mike grew up about 2 miles from here and said bring twice as much bug spray. I'll admit I was not excited and almost drove down each day (like most of my cousins did) instead of camping but we decided to give it a try and had a wonderful time. I'd even go back to Willow Park. And the bugs only really enjoyed Maddy this trip. And who wouldn't, look how sweet and innocent she is.

We arrived Friday evening, set up camp and enjoyed all the goodies everyone brings camping. Not sure why but we didn't even start up a fire. It was fun to see lots of my cousins (whom I neglected to take pictures of) from Texas and Oregon and of course all the local cousins who I really only see twice a year: camping and on Christmas Eve. Camping is a new things. Grandma has 57 great-grand kids and all of us grand kids are the moms and dads and she is the Grandma Great. BUT she loves camping and makes sure she gets a spot reserved to keep us all together.

Friday night, was an interesting night. Lexi couldn't understand why everyone wanted to go to bed and why were in this tent and why not jump on the air mattress'. It was only 1 am and she was still bouncing off the wall and wondering why everyone was trying to go to sleep. Not sure what time it was but she finally dozed off between Mike and I, only because I held her down. It was a very restless night. But she woke up chipper as usual.

Saturday morning we had a yummy french toast, bacon and eggs for breakfast. Isn't eating the best part of camping!! We played lots of games to entertain the youngsters, played Family History Bingo, enjoyed more treats and now it was free time. We were needing a break from the record breaking heat. Camping in the mountains gives you some break but not camping in the city. After lunch, we headed to our cousins house to enjoy swimming and getting clean (although it didn't last long--camping + dirt = fun:).

Lexi and Jack fell asleep while driving back to camp. Maddy nodded off and her top teeth, collided with her bottom teeth and she was so teary because her tooth was looser than she wanted it to be. She is terrified about loosing teeth. We got back to camp and she was holding her tooth with her finger. I pulled on her arm and out came her tooth. Oh my, the screams and hollering. Everyone came running to see what was the matter. Nothing, just a little blood. BUT a 2nd missing tooth out, and Jack didn't kick this one out. You can see her red eyes from crying. But also excited that it is out.



Jack loves Grampa. They call each other buddy. Jack even refers to Grampa as Grampa Buddy. Not sure where it stemmed from but he loves to spend time with Grampa and is always asking if he can go up to Grampa Buddy's house.



After dinner, it started to get dark and of course it was time to make smores! Maddy loves roasting marshmallows and sharing them with others.


Lexi didn't care much for it all together. She much prefers the chocolate and when no one will give her more then she'll eat the marshmallow and then if she has room the crackers. I really took this picture to show how one can get so dirty in such a short period of time. It really was about 30 minutes.




And then we started singing songs. Oregon cousins killed us Utah cousins with singing. They apparently are much better campers.



We cheated and took down camp today. Originally we were going to head up to Park City between camping which was only 30 minute drive. So we left the fire pit and smores and bugs and headed home. We put all the camping stuff in the garage (we are headed back to the mountains in 3 days to try camping out again), bathed the kids...wow was that a dirty tub and let them sleep in their beds. And yes, the tooth fairy found Maddy. Phew!
We woke up and headed to Park City for the rest of our trip. It is now a Prcie Wilson family reunion with no dirt and soft beds. Thanks Tifani for hooking us up at the Canyons Grand Summit. We had at least 13 beds for the group. Mike went with my brothers golfing at the Homestead and met us there later. Here are Jack and Lexi checking out our hotel room.



And then looking out the window at the ski tram.

And another window had a view of the pool, where we spent most of the day sunbathing and swimming in the water. Later that night we went and heard music in the piazza and when it was dark fireworks. Nothing better than fireworks in the mountain sky. We headed back to the room and had another late, late night with games and movies and more food.

Monday morning, July 4th, we rode the tram up to Red Pine for lunch. We all slept in and missed breakfast and the Oakley parade so we stayed around the hotel and enjoyed a relaxing morning. I missed a picture of the other kids riding the tram. I ran back to the room to get sweat shirts. The rain and wind were starting and we were all glad I had something to keep us warm. Here is Lexi with mom and dad riding up the mountain.


When we got to the top we ordered and waited for our food. The brought us a duck grilled cassadilla. Some enjoyed others didn't. Park City is always trying to be fancier then needed. Guess that's what the out of town guests like. Us locals just want good food. My lunch was good but 1/2 the family didn't eat much of theirs. They tried to make it too fancy and it wasn't edible. Here's my brother Brody so excited to have his picture taken. He could pass as someone from the middle east with his long beard. We are hoping the heat comes on and he shaves it off. His head looked the same a couple weeks back. Lexi ran in the opposite direction because she thought he was a terrorist. BUT he is single. Let me know if you are interested. He is a hotty!
Jack didn't want his picture taken either. He was waiting for his mac-n-cheese (which btw was good:).

And on the way back to the hotel room, Lexi sat on Alex' lap. The kids wanted to go swimming again and I wanted to go shopping. Shopping didn't really work out but the kids did enjoy the afternoon in the pool. On the way back to Salt Lake we stopped at Justice and bought Maddy a new swimming suit. Darling store, we may have found a new place to enjoy shopping at!

We headed straight to the next party down in Lehi and Bill and Stephanies. They are THE party planner. Every detail was covered, including an awesome neighborhood party. The neighbors all donate $20-30 and then they rent snowcone machines, cotton candy machines, blow ups with and without water, sumo wrestling and a neighbor built a train. Everyone comes and has a great time all day long. We were so happy to be invited to partcipate and enjoy the fun.






Grandma attempted to take a picture of the kids in their red white and blue. Lexi was hungry and finally came back to have a picture with chips in hand.

And here we are with cousins Kamryn and Karsyn.

After our feast of burgers, salad and homemade rootbeer and lemon icecream and cookies and rice crispie treats we headed outside to watch fireworks. I really got teary eyed as the neighborhood was also celebrating our freedom. So proud to be an American! And love the 4th of July.

Lexi loved the sparklers. She did however touch the end and needed lots of ice to make her finger feel better. I did it too. Ouch it does hurt.

And this is a first for Maddy. She is terrified of fireworks and esp sparklers. Way to Go!



And Thanksgiving Point lets of fireworks at 10pm. Wow, they were one at a time and so slow and long. The kids didn't mind, they were running around and burning of energy. The finale was beautiful. Wow, what a weekend!