American Fork Steel Days Celebration...

We enjoy the Steel Days Celebration every year, but this year we participated in a few new activities. The boys decorated and rode their scooters in the Children's Parade. Oakley even instigated making their own matching shirts. All on their own, they found white T-shirts and markers and wrote "I (heart) USA" on the front. On the back they drew fireworks and other designs. I loved that they did it all on their own. When we arrived at the high school where the parade started, we were excited to find out a police car would lead the parade, lights and sirens on and also blasting out some good music from huge speakers in the trunk. The parade route was all of a half mile tops, but the boys were raving about how awesome it was.

After the parade, we headed to Picnic in the Park. We met up with all the rest of the family and had a pizza picnic and played the carnival games. It was an exhausting day, but all worth when Eli, on the drive home that night, said, "This was the best day of my life!"

Eli and Asher take each other on in the boxing ring.

It's a race to see who can pump up their balloon the fastest.

 The next morning the boys and I all ran in the Steel Days race. I ran the 5k earlier then ran back home to get the boys for the Kids Fun Run. It was a half mile race and they all did fabulous! They were nervous and excited about running in their first race. It helped that they all got a medal and a cool shirt.

After the race and watching the parade, we headed up to Grandma's where she made everyone the traditional after-parade lunch of grilled tuna sandwiches. The boys and I then headed to the activity I most dread, the carnival. The boys beg and beg every year and I usually find a way out of it, but I actually bought tickets for them this year and we were going to use them.

Eli getting ready to ride the "Eli Wheel"
(otherwise known as the Ferris Wheel)

I'm thinking this may be our last year for
any boys who want to ride this ride.
It was always their favorite to go and pick
a car or motorcycle to drive.