4th of July Picnic

I'm not sure who was supposed to be sitting in the chair that is front and center and obviously vacant in the pictures but I wish it was Zander and Indi or some of our cutie grandkids.

I knew the parade was for Grandpa but I also know how hard Grandma has been working to care for Grandpa so I wanted to do something on the 4th that Grandma would enjoy too. Grandma has always loved having a picnic on July 4th and she originally wanted to go up into the canyon where it would be a little cooler. Well we did have a picnic which was very fun but we didn't get to go into the canyon and she ended up doing more than her share of the work because of my being mostly useless from my knee replacement surgery.

It was a good thing we came back to their house because I was able to ice my knee and even took a nap - well it started with the excuse that I could hold Preston and get him to go to sleep but I fell asleep too and I couldn't have done that in the canyon. I think Grandpa had a nap too. You know how tiring waving in parades can be. haha.

We roasted hot dogs on our portable fire pit and Barbara, Mark, Gary, Sheryl, Kendall (now 6'3" and a Jr in HS), Weston (plays the violin, viola and piano), Braiden (getting straight A's now he is in a charter school), Indi and Zander such cute little cabooses in their family. Spencer, Melissa, Jessica, Branson and Preston were at the parade with Keith & Grandma, Scott, EmmaLee, Luke, Katie & Sara didn't make it to the parade but came to the picnic. Then of course Keith, Grandpa & Grandma and me so it was a good group and we had yummy things to eat and enjoyed spending most of the afternoon together.

Barbara and Mark's granddaughter Sophia really loves bubbles so they bought the cool rope bubble thing at the parade that Weston is using in two of the pictures. THANK YOU Grandma for hosting the picnic and always being willing to help us have a good time when we are at your home. We stayed for quite a while after everyone else left. She even fixed us a bite to eat before we came home.

Spencer & Melissa met the Turner's in Provo to see the fireworks at the end of Stadium of Fire so we kept Preston. Grandma & Grandpa really enjoyed watching him. I really enjoyed having just him to play with. Nice hat Preston.

Parade Celebrity

Several years ago when we went to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade - (Randy & Heidi slept overnight to save a spot for us that year) there was an entry honoring veterans. I decided that I should try to get Grandpa Pryor in the parade sometime. Well this year it happened. I contacted the Parade committee and they put us in touch with the American Legion who was sponsoring entries in the parade to honor Veterans. At first when we approached Grandpa about it he was reluctant but before we left their home that night he was excited and was practicing his wave:) Keith checked to see what clothing he had that might be appropriate and even though his original army coat fit him it was long sleeved, wool and not the best thing to wear in the heat of July in a parade. So Keith decided to rent him an army uniform from Hale Center Theatre. Grandpa was so excited by this time we knew we had done the right thing. We topped of his "parade look" with my Grandpa Siddoway's tan Stetson hat. He looked sharp and was very happy to be part of the parade.



We had to have him in Provo at 7 am on parade day and he enjoyed feeling like a bit of a celebrity in the staging area - free donuts, bottles of water for us all, golf cart rides to and from the porta potty, but the real fun came when they assigned him to ride in the back of a restored army jeep driven by the man who restored it, a former military pilot and a super nice man. He made Grandpa feel so special.


You can see in the pictures there were only four entries behind the Utah's Military Veterans Banner and with Grandpa in a vehicle by himself he really looked and appropriately so, acted like a dignitary. Keith and Grandma Pryor along with Melissa, Spencer and their little ones found a good spot to watch. During the parade I stayed back at the car to rest and to be there when they brought him back after the parade was over.


Grandpa said he had so much fun. Just look at the look on his face, he was very happy to be honored by being in the parade. He did have a little trouble with him arm - diagnosis - too much waving at all the people cheering for him along the parade route. What a special way to honor his military service. Thanks Grandpa Pryor for doing your part to defend our freedoms during the historical conflict that has come to be know as World War II.