Freedom Fire Fireworks Show

Freedom Fire Set-up

 The Freedom Fire show being set up...

Like a good boy scout... always be prepared baggies were placed over the top of each of the fireworks to keep them from

getting wet... since rain was in the forecast...

The Diamond Rio Bus...

 Me and Dana Williams... what a cutie!

 Getting ready to go on stage...

 Dan Truman...

 Jimmy Orlander...

 Marty Roe...

 

Dana Williams... my favorite!

Diamond Rio is going to be performing at Freedom Fire at the USU Romney Stadium on July 1st. Josh has been working all week getting the fireworks ready for the big show. The boys were hungry and thirsty... so I dropped off some pizza and pop.  Josh showed me the Diamond Rio bus next to where we were standing... then he gave me his "pass" into the stadium and told me to go enjoy... so I did!  I watched the other performers along with the American Festival Chorus and orchestra in rehearsals.  I have to admit... I was in my heaven!  I got to take a picture with Dana Williams and stand about 10 feet away from the stage while Diamond Rio did their sound check for 60 minutes... so much fun... I can't wait for the big show from them tonight along with the awesome fireworks display put on by Fireworks West... 

 

Happy 24 B-Day Josh...

 Coat...

 New shoes (does that makes 33 pairs now?)

and Goldfish... Josh's favorite

 Speaking of favorites... a few more of them!

 Wood softball mitt - painted by mom

 Another favorite... Chocolate Chip Cake

 

Life gets pretty crazy for Josh about 2 weeks before the 4th of July until after the first of August.  Josh requested steaks (birthday gift from Grandma and Papa)...along with all of his favorites! Thanks to Gma ~ Papa ~ Aunt Peggy and Kendra for making Josh's 24th another great birthday!

Patriotic Pretzels...

 The production line...

 Look who got caught in the white chocolate...

 Dad decorating the sticks...

 Didn't they turn out cute!

 Almost 2 full bags dipped...

Look at these cute bowls I found at Hobby Lobby to put the pretzels in... we did 2 layers of netting going in a "+" and then tied with a cute red polka dot bow... fun and super cute little gifts to give.  I'm thinking Halloween will be next and I can use my favorite color... purple!

Happy Daddy's Day...

 Cutting the Chocolate Chip Cake

 Shocker... another shirt for dad...

 Cute pic of mom and dad...

 I couldn't decide which one I like better...

Dad still didn't have his appetite back after his battle with pneumonia... but requested to have Turkey steaks along with potatoes and Chocolate Chip Cake for treat time.  After dinner we played Match Play~Add 'Em Up Uno and Garbage and took a couple of family shots on the front porch.  Happy Daddy's Day Dad... and thanks for all you do for our family!

The Johnson Brothers...

The Tulley's...

 Josh - Nikki - Leila - Dad - Mom - Vicki

 Leila - Josh - Nikki

June 10, 2011

While Josh was serving in Gallup, New Mexico he met a wonderful family that took such great care of him! Fixing him dinners making sure that he had plenty of "love"... Josh loved them all so much that he would share the cookies with them that my mom and dad sent faithfully every Monday while he was gone. Last year Nikki and Monique stayed with us one night on their way home from Washington.  I didn't get to spent much time with them, but enjoyed the little big of time we had. Monique (who is living in Washington, DC right now) sent Josh a text that her mom and Nikki might be coming to Logan... and as soon as we heard that we all wanted to get together for a visit.  We met at Juniper Take Out for dinner... Josh really wanted to introduce them to his Papa... so he asked if they minded going to the hospital to visit.  Dad had been admitted earlier in the afternoon for breathing issues...so off we went. There is something so amazing about this family... you can feel the love just radiate from them and they have never met us before (even though the stories that Josh has told us made us feel like we had known them forever).  Leila and my dad hit it off right from the start... it was great to spend some time with them... hopefully someday soon Josh will take us to New Mexico so we can see them all again!

Seeing Double...Again...

 Anyone who knows me... knows I love rainbows...

I have even gone as far as telling Josh that I want a rainbow of some sort on my headstone... with that said.  We were all at dinner when Kendra said... hey Vic... there's a rainbow outside.  As much as I loved the conversation at the table... I left everyone and went outside for another photo op... 2 double rainbows in 2 days... I still think there is a "meaning" behind it but will settle for it being another one of natures breathe-taking moments.  I love this one because you can see the Logan Temple under the arch.

Rainbows and I go way back... One of the first days that Josh and I spent in our new condo there was a rainbow... I kept thinking "I'm in over my head with our new purchase"... but after the rainbow the knot in my stomach went away and I knew that Josh and I would make it... and we did!

Another rainbow appeared on a Saturday afternoon. Josh's soccer team were playing in a big tournament. We had already played and won games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning and this game was for the Championship.  We were down 3 goals at half-time (which was unusual... yeah the Raptors were pretty awesome).  Just as the boys were getting out of their half-time huddle a beautiful rainbow appeared over the East goal (which was going to be our goal for the 2nd half)... I told the boys... "you know what that rainbow means... it means we are going to win this tournament... now go and get some goals"! I'll be darned if those sweet boys didn't play their hearts out and came back to tie the game when the final whistle blew.  We had a shoot out... their best 5 players against ours... we didn't win the game... but Josh was the only Raptor to score a goal for our team.

The latest "big" rainbow was a little over a year ago.  Things had gotten so bad with Val and I.  We were fighting non-stop... or just not talking at all. This had been going on almost our entire married life and I was getting tired.  I got down on my knees one night and asked for some guidance... and was asking for a divorce the right choice to make.  I didn't get much sleep that night.  The next morning I woke up and did my normal morning routine.  I headed to work and lo and behold in the west sky was a great big beautiful rainbow (I mean really has anyone ever seen an ugly one).  I felt right at that moment that was my... "Yes... Vicki cut your loses and move on" sign.  I called Val when I got to work and asked him to please come to the office to talk.  When he got there I went and sat in the car (it was raining again) and asked him for a divorce.  We agreeded it was the right thing to do... and thus began my life with Val now know as my "former life".

There have been other stories about rainbows... maybe one day I will tell them to you! For now... don't miss your chance to go dance in the rain!