The 24th of July (really long post!)

It takes all year to get ready for, and finally the 24th of July in Monroe has come and gone. We've been going to the 24th since we were first married simply because it's the biggest celebration that Kristen's hometown puts on, and everybody comes back for it. There was even a foreign exchange student from Germany who comes back every few years with her husband since it's so great. It's seriously a 2-day celebration!
So, early wednesday morning, our nephews Conner and Cannon came up with Kristen's dad on his way to work and we entertained them all day and night long. We went to the fabulous Manti swimming pool where I got beet red from not wearing strong enough sunscreen. The kids loved it, especially the lazy river section in the middle of the pool. Afterwards we had a wii bowling and tennis tournament, and we all really enjoyed making funny characters. Conner wanted to watch the Spiderman movies, so we watched #1 and 2 wednesday night and #3 on thursday morning. We would have done a complete marathon, but it was already 1:30 in the morning when we finished #2.
Thursday we headed down to Monroe to start the festivities. The children's parade is always fun to watch with all the children dressed up in their little outfits. The community barbecue was a smash hit as usual with their famous slow-roasted meat. Yummy! But the barbecue is where we get to show off the annual milk run t-shirt. I've been designing them for a few years since Kristen's mom is in charge of the race early Friday morning. It's always a big secret as to what the t-shirt is going to look like. People have been collecting them for years! Too fun.
Friday morning started early as we set up for the race and helped with registration. Kristen and my job is to man the water-hole halfway down the course. We've done this every year I've gone, and can't imagine what it would be like not to do it. Josh was a trooper and got up with us, but by the time the runners passed by and we got cleaned up, he was back asleep. Poor guy!
After the race is over, everyone gets ready for the parade, and I set up my booth in the park. I've been drawing caricature sketches for a few years, and this year was pretty successful as well. As soon as the parade ends, I have a line of people that want to get their pictures drawn and I don't even get a chance to stand up until about 2-2:30. Or eat my navajo taco which Kristen stood in a long line for. Sorry!
After the fun in the park everyone goes home and sleeps until the concert in the park/barbecue before the fireworks. Now, my parents decided that they wanted to come to the 24th this year. Last time they came, it rained so hard that they shut down the concert, and the fireworks were pretty much ruined. This year, just as the concert started, the rain came again. It rained hard enough to stop the concert for about 20 minutes, but it finally let up and it resumed again. We all wore ponchos and huddled under blankets, but the show went on and the fireworks were great.
We learned a secret to making the best fireworks show: WEAR 3-D GLASSES. It is so cool! The fireworks look so much more intense! My dad said that it was the most fun he's had watching fireworks in many, many years! Remember that for next year.
We'll get pictures later. this post is long enough. Suffice it to say, it was aother successful 24th of July. Whew! Now to recuperate for next year!