A Family Tradition

Provo commemorates Independence Day every year with America's Freedom Festival. One of our favorite parts of the celebration is the Balloon Fest. Hot-air balloon pilots come from around the country to compete in jousting and the Hare and Hound race.

The event has been part of the Freedom Festival for 26 years, and we've been going every year since 2005, so it's become a family tradition. We get up at 5:30 in the morning to get ready and head up to Provo to watch the balloons inflate, launch and compete and then go out to breakfast together.

This year was the first year the weather was uncooperative
while we were there. Surface winds were strong enough
that most of the balloons had a hard time staying vertical,
let alone launching.

Out of 25 balloons, three managed to get
off the ground. This one is traditionally
the "hare balloon" for the competitions.

Kara can have a good time no matter how early it is.

Amy was less than thrilled to be there this year,
but she did get interested enough to count the balloons
as they inflated. She saw twelve (again out of the 25
that were supposed to participate - the other pilots
chose to conserve their propane).

Kara celebrated her freedom to dance
to "Play That Funky Music".

Amy celebrated her right not to have fun,
no matter what Mom and Dad say.

A Krispy Kreme breakfast is pure heaven.

A little sugar always cheers up
even the crankiest family members.

Happy National Sugar Cookie Day! Mmmmm!
Love,
The Petersons

What So Proudly We Hailed

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

We are proud and deeply grateful to be Americans. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Love,

The Petersons

What Fun Is

Brenda's aunt came for a visit last week, so we all took her to Lagoon, a local amusement park.

We were all completely soaked after going on
Rattlesnake Rapids twice in succession.

Kara on the bumper cars

Aunt Jo got brave and went on the Rocket with Joy.

Amy and Kara enjoying Ladybug Bop,
a miniature version of the Rocket

Samurai was Joy's and Brenda's favorite ride

A fun, hot, wet day for all of us!

Happy Canada Day, eh!

Love,
The Petersons