Celebrating America's birthday is really not high on my priority list each year. Crowds and heat combined- so not my thing. When Bill and I were deciding how to spend the day together this morning, the only thing I wanted to do was get out of Salt Lake and do something we have never done. (Can you tell I need a road trip?) So we did.
We went north to Huntsville. We thought it would be fun to hit up the monastery there for some local honey. Bill wanted to see if Pineview had a swimming area he could use before his triathlon to get used to swimming outside and I just wanted to see what freaky stuff was lurking in this small Utah town. When we arrived we found: That the monastery is down to only 11 monks, apparently too small of a number to make honey to sell and they stopped producing months ago. Pineview has a swimming area, but it will cost you. $13 for a day use pass. And small town 4th of July celebrations can be ridiculously charming. Usually not anymore of a fan of small towns than I am 4th of July celebrations, we found that in combination, (just like the chocolate and peanut butter I loath alone, yet find tasty together), it just works.
Keeping on the theme of doing things we never have done before, we had a family snowball fight in 90 degree heat. Snowbasin trucked in a giant pile of the white fluffy stuff and in our flip-flops and sandals we formed it into slushy snowballs and had our first summer snow ball fight. Somehow it was much more fun in the sun.
None of us have ever owned a cowboy hat before, and luckily we can still say that none of us have ever owned a cowboy hat. Romney almost broke our no-cowboy-hat-ownership streak, when he decided on a whim he desperately wanted one. A black felt cowboy hat. Unfortunately for him (fortunately for those of us who go out in public with him) they did not have one his size. The memory of him checking himself out in a mirror with a giant cowboy hat on was worth the entire hour long drive. Adorable.
Having never driven a small train before, Romney felt like he should give that a try. Without the keys in the ignition, he was out of luck, so he tried something else he rarely does- he smiled and posed for a photo.
After playing on the play-
ground, checking out all the fun games in the park, trying on of cowboy hats and an attempted train heist, we decided to head home so Bill could take the boys to the annual Real Salt Lake soccer game complete with fireworks at the end. Our little spontaneous slice of small town Americana was the perfect way to celebrate with family in a beautiful setting with none of the crowds and all of the charm.
