Tradition! The Freedom Festival Grand Parade

One of our favorite family traditions is the Provo Freedom Festival Grand Parade on the 4th of July.

We are parade people.

Some people don't like parades but we do.

Lee and the boys go and stake out our spot early every year and spend the night out on University Avenue in Provo.  The girls and I go over with dinner in the evening and stay until the police start clearing the street of parked cars (about 11:00 pm).  The girls then go home and come back the next morning with breakfast and stay for the parade.

This year was a little different for our family.

Jake and Scott weren't there.  

Scott was in the MTC (of course) and Jake was in Minnesota for an I.W.W. conference.

It was still fun, but definitely not the same.

This year was crazy.

The boys usually head over to our usual spot (east side of University Ave. between 1st and 2nd North) at about 12:00 noon on July 3rd every year to stake out our spot.  This year, Lee decided to go check things out at about 8:30 am and people were already there!  He called me and I brought him a couple chairs, his work bag, a drink, and Max for company. :)  It was his weekly day to work from home so he just did his work from the parade route.  (He went inside the car to make phone calls).  They were allowed to have chairs they were sitting in as long as they were inside a building alcove and not on the sidewalk until about noon.  

Lee is such a good sport when it comes to this!

He's done this for many years and we have made "parade friends".  

There's a ward from the Grandview area of Provo that is always next to us and Floyd is their fearless organizer.  Floyd knows the kids' names and is quite the joker!

It's a lot of fun but it is super hot!  

Lee staking out our spot.  :)

This year, we borrowed a canopy and were able to set it up around 3:00 which helped a little with the heat of the sun. 

 It was still super hot!!!

The girls and I usually bring dinner to the boys but this year Craig and Sarah were awesome and brought us pizza and bread sticks!  (yum! Thanks!)

Beth and Emma having dinner at the parade spot.

Emma and Max waiting at the parade spot.  Max brought his ukelele  to entertain. :)

Jonathan and Ethan joined the boys and spent the night.  Also, our friend, Rob Merrill, and his daughters spent the night this year.  Emma decided she wanted to spend the night also.

The next morning, Elisabeth and I brought donuts and orange juice for breakfast.  

We were joined by Papa Peterson (I wish I would have gotten a picture with him in it!), Craig and Sarah's family, the Merrill family, and the Mansfield family (another family from our ward).

It was a good time!

I doesn't look like Emma got much sleep out on the street!  She actually did have a great time! :)

Wahoos!

Cole with the beauties!  Glad I got a picture with Cole in it!

I don't think Jonathan got much sleep out on the street either.  :)

Gotta love traditions!

Yep, it was a good time!