Pioneer Day=Fairview

Growing up, Pioneer Day wasn't a big holiday in my family...but in Scott's family it meant going to Fairview to be with family, do the Fun Run and sit at Vaughn's for the P-rade, a BBQ with games at the house and then going up 'The Lake' for fishing and finally watching the Derby, if you were lucky enough to get tickets, and the fireworks.

This year did not disappoint: I didn't have to work on the 24th or the night before, as in years past...many a fun run conquered on no sleep!  We went down the night before, pitched our tent, had a some great BBQ (brisket and pulled pork, thanks to the Biles) and then we did our 'annual' camp-out--we aren't big campers ;)

The morning brought the blast from the fire trucks/police cars to wake everyone for the days festivities, Di, Russ, Lucy & Duncan ran the fun run, kicking some trash while they were at it (I have plantar fasciitis and therefore did not run, but promptly fell back to sleep after the fanfare of an unavoidable alarm throughout the city).  Next came the P-rade, we walked down to our saved spot at Vaughn's house, the man is 90+ years old and he still remembers my name!  They throw candy at this one and the  kids were not disappointed.  We went back for BBQ hamburgers/hot dogs and a smorgasbord of yummy sides and desserts.  The kids had fun in a bounce house that Brandon & Stacey brought, along with four-wheelers and a giant slip-n-slide...Uncle Ken and Ted took the kids up fishing at the lake and we went up to meet them after we took down our tent.  It is so beautiful up there, I am so glad the fires that wreaked havoc down that way did not disrupt the beauty of the canyon.  

It was a very fun trip and we are so glad we were able to go!

4-eyes...

When I took the big boys in for their year check-ups, the nurse asked if I wanted their vision tested, in my mind I was thinking, 'nah, their school vision screenings were okay', but Jorden piped up saying he would...so they both got their vision tested, Jorden passed with flying colors and 20/20 vision, Cameron on the other hand did not, the poor boy at first had his eyes closed then just wouldn't cooperate, or he really couldn't see the huge letters and pictures at the end of the hall...so we were referred to an ophthalmologist.  Since we had met our out-of-pocket, Cam and I both went to get our eyes checked out.  Cam was indeed about 20/70 and so a prescription for glasses was written, but we also got the news that we needed to schedule an appointment with a retinal specialist regarding his right eye, because it looked like the myelin around his right optic nerve was 'thicker', yikes!  You never want to hear that your kid has something wrong (think Garrett's 'gills', etc.)  Well we went back in to see the specialist and after two doses of drops to help dilate his pupils, and some pictures of his retina, the doctor told us that indeed the myelin surrounding his right optic nerve, as it inserts in the retina, was thicker than normal.  What does this mean?...well, it won't get worse, but it will never get better, it was something he was born with and there is nothing we can do about it.  It does mean that he will never see as well from his right eye, even with his new glasses he will only see about 20/50 from his right eye.  Fortunately his left eye is fine and so unless he wants to be a microsurgeon this shouldn't affect his life.
He did NOT want glasses, the nice girl at the shop was great with him and got him to pick out several pairs he liked and finally decided on a pair he would wear...when we went back to pick them up he still was in denial and actually kept his eyes closed for about 15 minutes, holding my hand as we walked out to the car, we tried to get him to open his eyes and see that the glasses 'worked' and he would be able to see better, it took a trip to Build-a-Bear to get glasses for his bear (which he refused, his bear would not wear glasses) for him to open his eyes.  Later he told Scott that, "everything looks new!"  He actually wears them very well, and I believe he 'sees' that they help him, he follows the rules--that when they are not on his face they are in his case and cleans them every morning.
We knew one or all of our kids would end up with glasses, someday--my vision is terrible and Scott has to wear glasses as well, so I totally relate to the lack of  Cam's excitement with the prospect.
He now looks like a little Scott, if he didn't already ;) 

Happy 4th

Lately I have been super emotional, hormonal, tired, what-have-you--so when I found out that Scott was indeed dead-set on driving 'Grandpa Oscar' in the Kaysville parade I was a little 'upset' we will say...I love the 4th of July, whether it is just the security of tradition with getting up super early to run, on purpose, in the Freedom Festival 10K, or sitting on University Avenue to watch the parade in the blazing heat as I reminisce about marching band and seeing friends and family, swimming and a BBQ and watching the awesome fireworks...the lack of my "usual" was throwing my delicate emotional/mental state into a spiral as I realized we would instead be driving an old, un-air conditioned VW bug along Kaysville Main street with a thousand+ people gawking at us and little kids yelling for candy which we couldn't throw from a vehicle because of new rules.  Part of the problem was in the fact I worked the whole weekend prior, had Monday off and then had to work the night before the 4th.  *read, very tired*

As it turned out, I got to sleep-in until 10:00 a.m. on the 4th, which was nice, got up and dressed and went with my family to have some fun in our old bug, it was fun, I will admit it (now) we saw a lot of friends and neighbors and the route is short so we were able to get back home and pack-up to go to Provo for the BBQ and swimming.  I got a nap after lunch, which was heavenly.   We then had dinner at Burger King with Thomas & Sara, their kiddos and Jeri, then we all headed to Fox Field to watch the Stadium of Fire Fireworks, which were spectacular--Garrett, Sam and Alyssa fell asleep, bless their tired little hearts.    We slept over at Grammie & Grandpa's, for Cameron's eye appointment the next morning and since Scott took the 5th off we stayed all day and went to see "Brave", so cute!  We grabbed dinner at Burger Supreme and then headed home with much-needed rain falling on our windshield...My over-emotional response to the week was all for naught, because it turned out to be a very fun holiday!