Hurricane Peach Days Parade!

Rick and I got up early to bring Jenna out to the Hurricane Peach Days Parade and then we stayed and watched. Their number was 49. After cheering on our Santa Clara Royalty we stayed for a while. After about ten more parade participants went by we asked someone how many entries there were -- 118! Needless to say, we left early, haha! At least we were in the shade and it was pleasantly cool (at least for us, not for the girls who were in the parade)! 

Leading up to the parade was stressful since there were disagreements about what dresses and colors should be worn. Some wanted to wear their matching short dresses, and others wanted to wear formals. The parade's theme was America 250 and they were going to try for red, white, and blue. But Cortnie didn't have her red dress yet and no one wanted to wear white. Decisions were still being changed up until the very morning of the parade. Stress! At the last minute they decided to go with formals. 

Anna, Taija, and Jenna all ended up getting to wear their new dresses, and Cortnie used one of her old ones since she didn't have her dress yet. Klara wasn't able to come. So they all ended up in shades of blue and I think everyone was happy. It wasn't red, white, and blue, but they looked good together and all of the girls looked beautiful! They walked around to visit the various booths afterwards and got lots of attention from young girls who were there. Some thought they were princesses from Frozen, haha. Jenna came home and said, "I love being a princess!" So all in all, it was a great day! 

2026 Fourth of July: America 250

This morning Rick and I packed up the grandkids (Everett and Callan) and headed to the parade! It was PACKED!! I don't think I have ever seen it so crowded! They changed the route this year to start on Main Street on 100 South and go to 900 East. Jenna was in the parade with the Santa Clara Royalty and so she met her group at 8:00. We also arrived at 8:00 (the parade started at 8:30) but it was really difficult finding an open spot. We ended up in a sunny area and it was HOT!! I wished I had brought the cooling cloths that I got for our Tuacahn show. 

The kids just care about the candy -- and there wasn't much. But there were people passing out apples and otter pops, which is even better. They did get a little candy. I'm okay with them not getting a lot, except for having to listen to, "where is the candy! I want candy!" It was fun to cheer on Jase and Ellen with Liberty Village and Jenna with the Santa Clara Royalty. The parade was over 90 minutes, we left a little early to help put Jenna's casseroles in the oven before all of her friends came over. 

Jenna was SO excited for the Fourth of July and very sick of being home bound after getting her tonsils out on the 23rd. So she planned a FULL day of activities for her and her friends. She sometimes says, "If I don't plan something then nothing will happen!" Her plans included the parade (all her friends came to cheer them on) and then brunch at our house. She was planning on it being brunch, but it was noon before everything finished and so it was lunch. She had spent the whole day cooking yesterday. She made three breakfast casseroles -- two cinnamon roll/french toast casseroles (one gluten free and one regular) and a casserole with sausage and eggs. We were the recipients of her efforts because we got to eat the leftovers, haha! 

All of her friends came over to eat (I forgot to get a picture) and then they went to Andrew's house for swimming, games, and croquet. Then some of the kids volunteered for the flag unfurling at the pre-show to the Russell Dickerson concert at Utah Tech University (in exchange for free tickets) and then they all watched the concert and the firework show. Then they went back to Andrew's house for glowstick swimming! She had a GREAT day!! Here is the album with lots of pictures!! 

The one below is a re-creation picture from a picture taken at last year's Fourth of July at Lake Powell! 

Jenna FSY!!!

Jenna and her friends went to FSY at Snow College in Ephraim this week! Monday morning Class Choice opened for Seniors (where they can go in online and change their schedule -- or at least try to). So I planned to pick up all of the girls for FSY at 8:30 to give them 30 minutes for schedule changes. Then I drove the girls (Jenna, Cortnie, Clarissa, and Anna) the 3.5 hours to Ephraim! 

When we arrived we checked in and then went to their apartment to drop off their luggage. We then hurried to Wendys to get lunch to go so that they could make it in time for their first counselor meeting! Jenna and Cortnie had arranged to be roommates, and Clarissa and Anna had arranged to room together. We were a little disappointed that the four girls were not assigned the same apartment, but at least they were in the same complex, right next door to each other, and they had the same counselor and company! 

I dropped them off and then drove by the new Ephraim temple and stopped by my former dorm and the institute building and let the nostalgia from my Snow College days run over me! Then I turned around and headed home! It was a long day of driving! 

Funny story... I had told Jenna that she should make an effort to meet new people and make new friends (including guys). After all, her boyfriend leaves on his mission in a couple of months and she would need to branch out socially and make the most of her senior year of high school. The next afternoon she send me a text saying that she decided to take my advice and had gotten really close to this guy saying he is "soooo funny and amazing..." I said I knew that she was just messing with me. She said she would send a picture. Well this is the picture that she sent!

Very funny, Jenna! 😂 I told her that she is a master at AI. She said that he was offended that I said he was fake, haha! Then she sends me this picture (see below) because I had warned her not to lean over the balcony because a couple of students at Utah Tech fell from the balcony of their apartment complex and  were killed (true story). Granted it was a lot higher up, but still...  

Jenna said the first two or three days were a little rough. They weren't allowed to go to their rooms for free time to take a nap like they normally do. Then later on she sends me pictures of her sleeping in the hallway and sleeping during class. She was SO disappointed that for pizza night they didn't get a gluten free pizza for her. I would be upset about that too. So I was a bit worried that she didn't seem to be having the same amazing experience that she has had in the past. 

But then by the time the week ended she said that it was amazing and that testimony meeting was awesome and that they had a wonderful time! So I am glad that things (or at least her attitude) improved throughout the week. This is her fifth time at FSY and she was had an amazing experience every single time. She said that she and her friends still want to go one last time next year even though they will be graduated and probably have their mission calls by that time! 

Clarissa's birthday was the last day of FSY. Jenna planned a scavenger hunt for her and brought her this birthday headband and sash. They sang Happy Birthday to her at every group event and so Clarissa got LOTS of love!! 

Anna's mom picked up the girls Saturday morning and brought them home. As soon as Jenna got home she showed me all of the pictures and videos and shared lots of fun stories. She said that all of the guys in their company looked like they were 14, haha, but they were fun anyway! She always comes home with a determination to do better and be better. Love you, Jenna!!