4th of July Festivities

One of my most favorite times of the year is the excitment and festivities during the 4th of July celebration in my hometown, Gunnison, Utah. The events begin the night of the 3rd with a big dinner, aution, entertainment, and fireworks. This year's excitment included Merril Osmond's performance and a dirt bike show put on by a local boy who has made it big in dirt bike racing/tricks. The boys were so amazed to see kids doing flips and stunts off their motorbikes. (Sorry no pics...camera battery was dead!)

The day of the 4th is enjoyed with a big parade, many activities for the kids, car show, volleyball and horseshoe tournaments and lots of catching up with friends and family.

Enjoying the parade

We recently went to a parade in Surprise and got a big kick out of the Senior Dancers with their batons and sequen outfits...something that you would only find near Sun City. Well in central Utah, we saw more of the country style entries...

Rex Brown and his HUGE cow!

And then a reindeer.

And Jalen's favorite...a HUGE dumptruck!

Here's my cousin Randon who has taken over Grandpa's and then hid dad, Kent's job as the train driver during the parade.



Usually, the riders are young children, but Parker and Tanner just couldn't resist!

The Dyreng family enjoying the parade

More cousins...Trevor, Connor and Taylor

We Love the Red, White and Blue!!

The Gunnison 4th of July Celebration is a huge success only because this small community is full of people so willing to serve and spend countless hours organizing, planning and making the festivities possible. All growing up, I watched my parents and grandparents take on many responsibilities...running the cotton candy or snow cone machine, dime toss, go-cart track, and whatever else was needed of them. One thing for sure, my Grandpa Jack could always be found cooking hamburgers. Even now at 81 years old, Grandpa still is doing the cooking. This year he had a new recruit...my brother Travis!

My dad helping with the BBQ, too!