Bill and Sandy Vance visit Pleasant Grove

 Bill and Sandy Vance from Ellensburg, WA - found us on the internet and came to visit on their way back to WA from CO. Their son Tom, is Heidi's age - they were friends in high school  Bill was a student of Dad's at Oregon, then Dept. Chair at Central - wonderful to reconnect with old friends.

 Pretty funny that the men are in blue, the ladies in white shirts!  old people dress alike?  Thanks to Kyle for taking our pictures ... Vance's wanted one with the mountains in the background.

Dad talking to them about their car - they really like it ... note the bikes on the back - they are recreation people!!

Tait Fairbanks in his Y outfit!

 Dear Tait in his first BYU outfit - Such a precious grandson ... all are!

 Millie and Lindsey - we have beautiful daughters AND grand daughters!

Georgia wanted her picture taken also - love to all!

Pioneer Day - 24th of July

 Lindsey registered us all for the Temple to Temple Fun Run - great way to start the 24th celebrations.  Here we are before the start - at the Provo Temple.

 Part of the 10,000 plus who ran, walked, pushed strollers, rode scooters, etc.  The registration is free and they are trying to get up to 20,000 !

 Georgia, Millie and Tait got to ride in the stroller - 5K - three miles from Provo Temple to Provo City Center Temple - nice day.

 Olivia and Sadie ran/walked the whole three miles with me - here they are waiting in the line for the porta potties!  See the temple in the background?

 We did it!  A great time was had by all - more family members should plan on doing it next year.

We had everyone over for a 'picnic' in our living room!  Here the girls are having a 'snowball' fight - then we threw them in empty boxes, last was hiding one for the others to find!  

Keenyn's Birthday

Keenyn turned 7 on the 16th of July.  He requested a 'football' cake and his Mother made him one.

 Cousins playing on the swing set.

 Briella's playhouse used to be up on the cement - her Dad put it down here and now she says it is a 'cabin'!

 Girls playing in the cabin in the woods!

Keenyn blowing out his birthday candles!

Murdock Trail - Pleasant Grove

 Polly's house is close to the Murdock Trail - they covered the canal and it is wonderful for bikers, joggers, walkers, etc.  no motorized things - we run/walk just about every morning.

 Nice to be on the side of the mountain - enjoying fresh air and pretty scenery.

 This deck had a slide into a sand pile - thought that was a good idea!

 This awesome tree house has a climbing wall and a slide down - the orange/yellow paint isn't the most natural, however.

 Isn't this a nice old barn?  right by the trail.

Just passed the telephone pole you can see the Mt. Timp temple in the distance.

July 15th 2017 - 51st Wedding Anniversary

 Saturday, July 15th we celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary - Polly took us out to breakfast to a fun place in Orem - Joe's - delicious food and fun atmosphere! Joe is the owner and cook, from Texas and his family all wait tables.

 Kroeber's hosted a Beef O'ole dinner - Kate and Anna came and met Tait for the first time.

 Families are the best!  Dan was called away on a flood emergency at work - Chris and Eli just got back from Scout Camp - but a good time was had by all!

 All the grandchildren who were there - such fun little and not so little people!

Everyone who was there - thanks to all for a wonderful party!

Polly got this yummy ice cream cake - part Rocky Road and part Mint Chocolate - delicious!!

Sydney's short visit!

 Friday, July 14th was Sydney's Birthday ... she drove from Las Vegas to Provo on her way to Wenatchee, WA - she was spending the night - Lindsey and girls made this cute sign - plus a paper one they all colored on.

 It was too late for the girls but we were all happy she made it safely!

 Sydney and Tait - from one of the oldest to the next to youngest grandchild - ALL are wonderful!

 Love hoe Tait is looking at Sydney - he knows she loves him and is family!

Not the best - but at 11:00 at night you get what you get!!

Huge Flag

 Kyle Fox and Ron Nix started a "Follow the Flag" nonprofit organization in 2015 to promote patriotism.  This is the largest flag to ever fly in the USA - 400 pounds, 1/4 acre in size.  It is on steel cable and flew in the mouth of Grove Creek Canyon - Pleasant Grove, Utah - from July 4 - 10th.

 Really loved seeing this - and all the families going up to the canyon to view it!  Even made the NBC Nightly news - I'm told!~

 Sponsored by the Colonial Flag Company - Mr. Fox said:  I want kids to know the Fourth of July is about more than a barbecue, a parade and fireworks."  It is about our freedoms and thanking those who provide them for us.

This big spot light lit the huge flag all night - pretty impressive! We are blessed beyond measure to live in such a wonderful free land.

Fourth of July Parade - Provo 2017

Tuesday, July 4th - we all got up early and many family members ran in the Provo Freedom Races - Polly and Chris hosted their annual overnight on the parade route - so after the races we all headed for University Avenue and the parade.

 Millie, Tait and Lindsey - notice the grill in the background?  Chris makes delicious breakfast burritos for everyone - yummy and fun.  He actually came home from OK for the weekend - he is headed back for more military training - until the end of August.

Chris and Heather - Chris ran the 10K with Isaac and Keenyn,  Heather the 5K with Eli - Briella was signed up the the 1 mile run - didn't run  very much of it - Grandpa stayed with her.  I tried to stay with Sadie and Olivia ... didn't do it! They are fast!!

 More Parade fun - poppers from Uncle Chris.

 Cute Fairbanks girls in their Fourth of July clothes - the sun was shining in their eyes, if you can't tell!

Springville city - Art City float - I like the message: Color Outside the Lines!

 Sadie was third overall for girls in the 1 mile run!!  Olivia was second in her 6-7 age group ... some future cross country runners in the family!

Lunch at the Fairbanks after the parade ...loved spending a holiday with those we love most!

Stadium of Fire - fireworks

 BYU has a big Fourth of July program in the football stadium - - the Stadium of Fire!  always a great country singer and tons of awesome fireworks...the Utah families have a tradition of sitting on the temple hill lawn and watching the fireworks that are above the stadium for free!

 You have to go pretty early to get a spot - and then you eat snacks and play games!

 Sharing the evening with lots of other people.  As it was getting dark, Georgia - three years old - said: "Mom the moon is glowing in the dark!"  yes - that is what the moon does!!

Dear baby Tait - slept through the whole thing - loud booms and all!