Our Independence Day

This year July 4th was a bit different this year, and different is good.  For years now, the tradition has been to drive up to Malad, ID to be with my Uncle's family for the weekend.  They have an old farmhouse on some land they spend summers on.  Bruce has never been.  When we went last, Bruce was in Iraq.  So I had Bruce take off time well in advance to give him this pleasure that his sons and I have both had.  Unfortunately, this year we could not go, as renovations were being done on the house.  Hmmmm. What to do now?  So I spearheaded an effort to put together a Barnum Family outing for Independence Day.  We ended up in Park City, UT and stayed in a condo and enjoyed the local attractions.  Everyone loved it.  Mom even said it could be the start of a new tradition. 

We started the vacation in Centerville to watch one of the many parades that my nephew Justin marched in this summer.

He's the guy in the center marching backwards.  He is a part of the cymbal line at Davis High School.  Then afterward, what would a Barnum get together be without shopping?  We are the ultimate thrift store shoppers, and this trip was no disappointment.  Bruce and I came home from Utah the proud new owners of 5 black bar stools for our kitchen that we tied up on the roof of our car.  After Church on Sunday, we drove up to the condo in Park City and used the night to get settled.  We played cards and made jewelry. Monday morning we headed for the parade in town.  Pretty impressive for a small town.  No candy was thrown, which was a disappointment to the kids.   Grandma and Grandpa came up that afternoon, then we decided that we would head to the aerial ski show to spend the rest of our afternoon.   

Here we are hanging out at the ski show before it started.  Thanks Patrick for the ice cream.  Lincoln really enjoyed it.  The show was amazing as we learned through the commentary what skill and practice it takes from the skiers, even though they make it look effortless. 

See the tiny red dot?  That is the skier up in air doing his flips. 

Afterward, we headed into the ski museum and enjoyed the interactive displays. 

Who can resists a picture in the bobsled?  Here are me and my sisters, minus one who joined us at the condo later with her family. 

Here are the cousins that are looking so cute together!  Too bad all of them aren't here together.  How many could we fit in the bobsled?

The next morning, the agenda consisted of the Alpine slide.  Here is Bruce and Gideon on their way up in the lift.

 Allen can't wait to try his hand at the sled! 

Here is the whole crew trekking to the beginning of the slide with their sleds in tow. 

He seriously looks ready to go!

Lincoln loved every minute of the ride.  His last experience on an alpine slide was in Germany, when he was told he was too young to ride on the rodelbahn in Pottenstein.  The poor boy had watch his brothers and his friends go down in jealously.  It was his turn now!  He wouldn't let me put on the brake.  We ended the ride with slurpies and then headed to the pool, ending with hot tub time at the condo.  What a great way to spend the day!  What is a trip to Park City without shopping at the outlets?  We headed there the next morning.  It was a great way to end the vacation.   

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Although putting together the trip, planning meals, packing etc was a lot of work, those things that take a lot of work are often worthwhile.  I ended the vacation pretty tired, but satisfied that I helped to provide a fun place for family memories to be made.