The 24th

Okay, I haven't made any recipes that I said I would yet because we got a lot of leftovers from Sunday dinner at Robert's parent's house, which we ate Monday, and yesterday we were out celebrating Pioneer Day in Springville/Mapleton, so I didn't make any of the recipes I said I would yet.  But, tonight's the night.

In Utah, we have the opportunity to celebrate Pioneer Day, acknowledging our ancestors in their sacrifices to cross the plains and settle here in Utah.  Robert and I woke up at the crack of dawn (okay, not really) to leave for Mapleton to watch the parade.  I have gone almost every year since moving back to the United States because my grandparents live in Mapleton.  A lot the cousins and aunts and uncles come, and it's just something fun to do.  Usually we go to the little carnival at the park, but this year we didn't go (we, meaning the older kids.  The younger kids went with my uncles and aunts).

 This reminds me of Cinderella!

 Unicorns do exist.

 This is a mint truck.  You can't really tell in the picture.

 The "drill team"

Steiner's flower shop was a part of the parade, and they handed carnations out.  I decided to turn mine into a different color.  I was going for a "midnight" color, but it turned out mint.  I'm not sure if it's cuz it has to soak forever, or if that's as much color as it soaks up.

Later that night, we went to the Mapleton firework show at Ira Allen park.  In years past we would either watch on our deck, or we'd watch from the old highway in Mapleton, but last year we decided to watch it at the park, and I loved it.  I love it because you get to just lay down, and the fireworks blow up right over you.  Sometimes it's too bright so it hurts my eyes, but still, I love it.  This year no one went in my family besides Robert and me, and my sisters.  It was lame.  I still had a good time though with Robert and my friends, Howard and Emily (my sisters didn't come till later, and when they did, they ran off to find their friends).

 Being creepers

 Howard and Emily