Mormon Holiday.

As some of you may know, The 24th of July is a Mormon holiday.We celebrate the day the first group of pioneers came to Salt Lake City. This holiday is filled with rodeos, barbecues, parades and fireworks. I got the chance to watch a parade in Salt Lake with some friends. 

Finding a place to park was miserable. The were cars EVERYWHERE, and it was so frustrating. I could have payed $5.00 for a spot, but I thought that was ridiculous so I decided to park NINE blocks away. After that walk to the parade and back I was somewhat wishing I had payed $5.00 because it was so hot outside.

During my search for a parking spot, I did find this man hard at work!

Look at him go..... or sleep.

I didn't take many pictures of the parade, but here are some I took.

Kilts and the flag. What more can you ask for?

President Uchtdorf! Definitely the best part of the parade!

Wait... is that the prophet? 

This picture has a story behind it. So we are sitting outside in July and its flipping hot right? I was dying. I was sitting there with no shade or water. Then something amazing happened. I look down the line of people and this man is grabbing things out of a box and giving it to people. I noticed it was something I could fan myself with. I anxiously awaited him to give me one and when he did I said, " you just saved my life." After I started vigorously fanning myself, I started seeing the people across from us doing the same. This was a very smart man, especially because the fan was advertisement and 

a coupon to his game trading store.

In the parade was a lot of old cars. It was so fun to look at them all.

I think this one was the oldest of them all. It doesn't even have a driving wheel!

 And of course my favorite parts of parades are all the horses.

I could stare at these beautiful animals for hours. These horses

were pulling "moving vans".

That was about all the celebrating I did for the 24th. Actually now that I think about it,

I didn't think too much about the pioneers(it's not to late to start right?). I am so grateful for their and faith and courage to make the trek to Salt Lake. They can be good examples to all to keep putting one foot in front of the other when times are hard.

1. When I think of pioneers

who lived so long ago,

I wonder how they traveled

through the heat and mud and snow.

I know their legs grew weary

with hardships on the way,

But love for Heav’nly Father

made them stronger day by day.

They had faith in ev’ry footstep,

hope in ev’ry word.

They were pioneers courageous,

who loved and served the Lord.

2. When I’m sad or feel afraid,

or when temptations come,

I’ll think of what the pioneers

with courage would have done.

I’ll keep the Lord’s commandments

and pray for guidance too.

I know that He will help me.

I’ll be cheerful, brave, and true.

I’ll have faith in ev’ry footstep,

hope in ev’ry word.

Like the pioneers courageous,

I’ll love and serve the Lord.

(Song is called Pioneers Courageous.)

Happy 4th of July

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July this year!!!

It was my first 4th away from home and it

 was a lot different. I must admit that I did miss not

 doing the usual 4th of July In Farmington,

However it is good to have a change too.

On the 2nd I celebrated by watching the fireworks

 the Stadium of Fire puts on.My Aunt and Uncle had a 

wonderful view from their deck! It was so nice because we

 didn't have to deal with traffic since we were home!

On the 4th was of course Sunday, so there was no celebration

besides with your family. We decided to celebrated with

 an Asian dinner. It was delicious.

Today(the 5th), was the parade. I feel kiddish saying 

that I love parades!I admit they can get long and boring,

 but I just love the spirit of it all. People are happy

 and, for the most part, are having a good time.

I love to see all the floats, costumes, and of course the animals.

I have decided that I love Utah parades.

 I just decided this today because it was my

 first time going to one. What do you see exactly at Utah parades?

You might just see temples,missionaries, and Miss whatever

 in modest dresses. You see words like 

Families, Faith, Temples, and Pioneers.

And besides all those wonderful things, the floats were amazing. You

just don't see those kind of floats in Farmington.

(How to train your dragon float)

I suppose you can say that I have enjoyed my 4th of July this year.

It was different and new, but good. 

Yes. He can dance.

I love to watch the show, So You Think You Can Dance.

This weeks episode had one of THE coolest dances I have

seen on the show. I just want to share it with you
because I am still amazed! Before you watch the video,
keep in mind that he is a ballet dancer!

He's Here!

On June 21,

This little man was born.

Gavin Gray Duncan is name,

and he is my precious nephew.

He was born at 5:17 p.m., weighing 6 lbs 9 ounces

and was 20 inches long. 

He is such a sweet boy and I look forward to seeing him grow.

Even if it is from a distance!

And he is just stinking cute!

How do I love you?

How do I love you? Let me count the ways.

(mom and dad)

I love you as the sun loves the bright blue days.

I love you as the bee loves a fragrant flower.

(Sara and Danny)

I love you as the thirsty duck loves a sudden shower.

(Steven and Brittany)

I love you as a bird loves a song to sing.

I love you as the walking bear loves the smell or spring.

(Grandpa and Grandma Duncan)

I love you as the cat loves a sunny sill

(Grandpa and Grandma Culler)

and as the dancing snowflakes love he winters chill.

How do I love you? Let me tell you how.

(Alani)

I love you as the nest loves the sturdy bough.

(Gavin)

I love you as the sea loves the sandy shore

and as the ancient world loved the dinosaur.

(Hillarie And Zach)

I love you as the wind loves its own sweet sound

(Allyson)

and as our friendly earth loves to spin around.

I love you as the moon loves the shining star.

I love all that you will be and everything you are.

These words were taken from a book I gave to my niece Alani.

These are only a few people in my life that I love.

I also want to thank these wonderful people for everything they do for me.

I just wanted to say...

I love you

Another Trip Home

Last week my cousin Allyson and I decided to take a trip

to good 'ol New Mexico!

Brittany was having her baby shower, so that was the main

reason we went.

Also because It is nice to get away from Provo every once in

a while, and Ally hadn't been in a long time.

During our visit we:

-got pedicures

                                    -saw Letters to Juliet (recommend)

                               - went to Brittany's baby shower

   - enjoyed the sun

 I also got my hair done by my amazing sister!

(thanks again sis)

We enjoyed our time there and being surrounded by my family.

My mother and I

Alani my cute niece and I

Beautiful Allyson

New Mexico Sky

Fun toes

21st Birthday

For my 21st Birthday this year I decided to have

a few friends over. I thought it would be fun to

make our own individual pizzas instead of ordering

one. Hillarie was nice enough to come over to help

me prepare and cook everything.

We made the breadstick and pizza sauce and 

was planning on making the pizza crust but the

timing wasn't quite right so we just made LOTS

 of breadsticks(which were amazing thanks to Hillarie's mad skills)

Cookies with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in them

The breadsticks cooking

Everyone in the process of making their pizza

and

here are the results!

 

 

After eating our delicious pizzas we played some

games, hung out, and opened a few gifts

This was a fun game we played. It was off of the

T.V. show Minute to win it. You had to blow off

all the cards except one. It was really fun but hard too.

Ethan was the only one who could do it.

Over all I had a great birthday as usual. I had a lot of Happy Birthday 

wishes, fun, and great gifts. I still cant believe I am 21! I don't feel like

I should be that old, but I suppose everyone feels that way. 

Here is to being 21 (with root beer of course)