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! 

1940's Style Hanger Dance!!

Jenna and Ethan dressed up for the 1940's Style Hanger Dance and they looked SO cute!! Jenna had ordered this dress and it was super cute, but also way too short!! She was going to sew some lace or material on the bottom of it, but I suggested she just wear the petticoat that she had from last year's dance. It worked out perfectly! She and Ethan went to Walmart where they found the shirt and pants for Ethan that matched Jenna's outfit. They had such a fun time! 

Rick and I also went and had a great time. Although we didn't look near as cute as Jenna and Ethan did, ha ha!! But we still had fun! 

Jenna: Sadies!!

 Jenna had a great time at Sadies!! 

Jenna was in the same group as her second cousin, Caroline Williams, so that was fun! 

New Lunch Group!!

Last year Jenna was in a lunch group called "Lunch Bunch," with her group of friends. One of the moms headed it up and sent out a signup sheet through "SignUp Genius," for all of the moms to sign up. It worked out great! I really liked it because then I knew that Jenna was getting a good meal for lunch. When she didn't have a place to go she often skipped lunch (which is definitely NOT healthy) or went out to eat with friends, which wasted a lot of money. So the lunch bunch was really helpful for her and her friends to socialize and also have a great home-cooked meal ready for them. 

Well, by the end up the year, Jenna wasn't hanging out as much with that friend group, and during the summer she started hanging out more and more with Ethan and his friend group, and other childhood friends from the neighborhood. I really wanted her to continue with the lunch group, but thought it would be better if we started our own group with this new group of friends. We contacted Clarissa and Anna to see if they wanted to switch over as well. So today was the first day -- at our house with Hawaiian Haystacks! This group went strong all year! Such a great group of friends!! 

Ethan Allred, Jenna Jensen, Clarissa Williams, Sam Bolton, Cache Nielson, RJ Stephens, Seamus Purdy, Kyle Crouch, Andrew Rowan, Anna Ence (and Cortnie Kendrick, but she didn't come today). 

40's Hangar Dance

Jenna went to the 1940's Hangar dance with Ethan. Rick and I went last year and had a great time! I would have loved to go again, but it was the same weekend that Rick and I were going out of town. Jenna and Ethan went with Anna and Andrew. They all looked so cute!! 

Earlier that day...