No, he’s not skydiving, although he’s already asked me how old you have to be to skydive. Heaven help me!Every year on Pioneer Day, the Bountiful City Park has carnival games and rides. This is the bungee jump/trampoline that he waited in line for TWO HOURS to do! Luckily, there were chairs nearby in the shade where we sat and waited.
As always, there were a variety of pioneer games, including the log saw that Ryan and Papa did together.
And carnival games such as the fish pond, bouncy shark, etc. 
I keep enjoying these, thinking any year may be the last he’ll want to do them. He didn’t want to ride the ponies this year. :(
We learned that the flat place surrounded by a grove of trees where we met was called “Cold Creek Camp.” It was the place where many pioneers camped their last night before entering the Salt Lake Valley.
The best part of Church in the Canyon is that they serve refreshments! I was holding Claire as we walked over to the refreshment table. I picked up a chocolate doughnut with chocolate frosting (of course!) and a cup of milk. Before we even got to our seat, Claire had poked a finger in my doughnut. As I sat down, Claire grabbed an entire fistful of my doughnut and shoved it into her mouth! Then she grabbed another fistful with the other hand! Within moments, Claire had a mouthful and two fistfuls of doughnuts, and we were covered with chocolate! I thought Ryan was a young chocoholic, but he may have competition! (Frances snapped these pictures as the event unfolded.)
Ryan also enjoyed the zip-line swing. He was about 10 kids back in the line as we were ready to go. I called to him, and he was disappointed that he wasn’t going to get his turn, but he was obedient and was going to leave the line. But then a girl ahead of him said, “Hey, guys! This kid needs to leave. Let’s all let him go ahead of us!” I couldn’t believe it! And they all did! He loved it!
Church outside…with refreshments…and kids that voluntarily do kind things for others?!?! I may change wards!
We had a fun BBQ dinner and carnival at the Gallivan Center…
And we all enjoyed spending time with our former boss, Tom. He has now moved on to another department. A couple of us put together a thank-you recognition for him and worked on it during the week. I took pictures of groups of Tom’s former employees throughout the first couple of days, and then compiled them in a book. We passed the book around to all of the former employees to sign and write a memory or message. Then we were able to present it to Tom at dinner one night. He was very pleased.
Graduation was great...
My friend, Carrie, was my inspiration to change PhD programs. She started her PhD a year after I started mine, and just finished! This was her first graduation with her new regalia. I wanted a picture of the two of us together as my inspiration to continue with this new program.
I had expected one of my students to come, but then didn’t see her at the Friday night reception, so I figured she was unable to make it. I didn’t hear her name during the services, so I was sure she wasn’t there. Blake and I changed out of our regalia and started walking to the car. A WGU employee that I didn’t know (in her regalia) came up to me and said, “Aren’t you Melanie Olson?” She then told me that my student was looking for me and led me to her! I was so glad she had found me! I had already taken off all of my regalia, and had heat and hat-head, but we still took a picture. She even brought me a gift! It was so fun to meet her in person!
Most people fly home on Saturday, but Blake didn’t fly home until Sunday. So, instead of leaving her stuck in her hotel room, we entertained her for the day. We took her to our house to meet Copper and pick up Ryan, went to lunch, and then went for a drive around Bountiful, including Mueller Park to dip her toes in a cool mountain stream.
Of course, we also had her semi-annual “height check” with Ryan!
As always, it was a fun week, and it has taken me the entire week since to get caught up! But it’s always worth it!
As always, we had a lot of fun with Kristin & Abby.
Our friends and neighbors, the Moons, were also there. We enjoyed visiting with them, too.
And Ryan kept us all entertained during intermission with his popcorn throwing skills!
Our Independence Day festivities began on Friday, July 3, with the North Salt Lake City carnival and fireworks at Eaglewood. We missed last year (same Yellowstone trip), but have made that a tradition every year since we moved back to Bountiful from Las Vegas. It was fun to be back. Mom & Dad were at the temple with a cousin who is going on a mission to Canada. So Ryan and I went alone. As we approached our usual spot, the Strand/Chilton clan was there! They had brought pizza, birthday cake and ice cream for Lil’ Troy’s 3rd birthday, and invited us to join them. It was fun to still be with family there! (Thanks, Teya, for taking our picture!)
It was great to see Troy, Teya, Loni, and their families. It was great to see Teya's new baby, and to see Loni, another family member expecting twin girls!
But, finally, after years (generations!) of Randy doing “bunny ears” to everyone in pictures…karma!
We had a great time hanging out with the fam, watching the skydivers and flyovers, and doing the carnival games.
Finally, on the 4th, my good little cub scout put up the flag…
...We picked cherries and made a couple dozen pints of jam…
...And enjoyed visiting and lighting fireworks with friends and family. It was a great week!