Pioneer Day 2013

This was a meaningful Pioneer Day as we spent it in Salt Lake City, right where the pioneers of 1847 arrived. 

  Roo had slept over and he and Jared came with Dave and I to our stake Pioneer day breakfast.  It was right on 2nd Ave., probably pretty close to where a lot of the first Utah pioneers set up camp when they first arrived.  We are part of the Ensign Stake.  This has been the home stake of all of the prophets of the church from Brigham Young to Pres. Monson.

Then we picked up Alex from the train so he could join us for the day.  We stepped outside of our apartment building to watch the Days of 47 Parade roll past.  This is the first time we have ever seen it.  It was a true parade, in every sense of the word.  I loved it.   The only time I have seen more floats is at the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

 There were also marching bands, clowns, magnificent Clydesdales and miniature horses.  (Bye Bye, Lil Sebastian)  We really enjoyed it and what made it even better was the overcast sky that kept the temperatures bearable.  It was so pleasant.

Right after the parade ended, we took Trax over to the airport to watch Dallin arrive from his mission to San Antonio.  He returned with honor.  Jeff and Fran were very proud parents.

 Cousins.  The first three of my parent's grandchildren to return from their missions.  Two more (Sheldon and Bryson) are still serving.  What a good bunch of kids!

Later in the afternoon we got sushi and then watched a dvd back at the apartment with Alex and Roo.  We had seen fireworks earlier this summer and didn't feel like fighting the crowds again, so we skipped that part of our usual pioneer day celebration.  But it was a pretty fun day, I would have to say.