Let Freedom Ring, and Run, and Fall Asleep

First Sunday we were here was mellow.  Oli had been up Saturday night from around 10:30 pm to 1:00 am.  When he woke up at 10:00ish he seriously did not seem tired at all, so I figured rather than get frustrated trying to get him back to sleep I would just let him stay up for a bit.  Thankfully he slept in on Sunday morning until around 10:00 am to make up for it.  

The jet lag wasn't ideal, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  It took us just under a week to finally feel more back to normal and be on a totally regular sleeping pattern again.

Sunday was actually the 4th, but being here in Utah they have the magic power to switch it to Monday.  Somehow I allowed my sisters to convince me to run the 5k Freedom Run in Provo.  They were smart and trained for it.  I did nothing of the sort (don't let my racing jersey fool you.  it came with the registration).  The idea of running in China is pretty disgusting to me.  I just feel like I will be taking in even more of that awful air than I should.  Thankfully Dad decided to run it too.  So we just puttered at our own pace with a combo of walking and running.  I think we did it something like 29 mins.  Not to shabby for an old dude and a lady who couldn't care less about running :)

Also, let's just think about my trip planning again.  Having to wake up at 6:00 am two of the first three days of jet lag is just really not a great idea. 

 

We had originally planned on going to the parade, but then decided that no one wanted to camp out for a good spot, so we decided to bag it, and then after the race we just couldn't help ourselves so we went home and got the kids and headed back.  We found a great place at the very end of the parade route just past where my old school (Waterford/Meridian) used to be (it seems they are building new chapels on the site).  We even had a good amount of shade.  We didn't have any traffic or trouble finding a place to park.  It was a brilliant idea.

Like I said before, I haven't been home for the 4th in 6 years and I just love the 4th in Utah Valley.  Parades are so funny and so festive.  Oli thought it was pretty cool, but he was also in his "My body had no clue what time it is" phase.  Poor kid, once again looked sooooooo tired.  His favorite things were the policemen on motorcycles and the huge group of Star Wars people (still have no clue what this was about).

Oliver was hilarious.  He held this flag up in the air like this for quite a few minutes.  Just standing there, looking so tired and stoic.

 Yup, human lovey.... again.  Notice the hair twiddling.

I love this picture of Oli.  Popcicle on his face, so tired and so sweet.

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 Oli just had this concerned look most of the parade.  I love the furrowed brows and the way he sucks on his lip. 

 Ah ha!  A moment of animation!

After the parade we headed up the BYU Creamery.  I am not the biggest ice cream fan in the world (too cold!), but man alive, the Creamery ice cream is DELICIOUS!  I think my favorite flavor is Earnestly Chocolate.  This is somehow Oliver's "I'm excited to eat ice cream face."

 I am pretty sure he approved.  He scarfed his and half of mine.

I honestly have no clue what we did the rest of the day.  In the evening instead of putting him to bed early like I should have we went down to "Cul de Sac of Fire" in my parent's neighborhood.  It has had a great reputation in the past, but the original organizers were out of town this year, so other neighbors did it and it was terrible.  They had this huge gathering of kids, and the had some comedy troupe from UVU as the entertainment.  Not only was all of their material geared towards 20-somethings going to UVU, they went on for WAY too long.  Finally after saying the third or fourth questionable word (at least for an audience of 2-15 year olds gathered at their feet) someone finally went to the MC and said, "Enough!  Where are the fireworks."  We watched a few and went to bed.