The Handcart Days Parade!

The Handcart Days Parade was last night, and what a neat experience! All of Bryan's siblings, and all of the grandkids 3 and up were in the parade. Here are just a few pics...there are more on my facebook page if you are interested.


Earlier in the day, we had all the siblings and their families over for a BBQ (we were only missing Mom and Travis, and of course Dad)...it was so fun to have everyone all together again. There is just something special about having everyone together. I love it. Later on, we had a fishing pond for the kids. It is so funny how excited kids (even 12 year old kids!) get over getting a bouncy ball in a bucket behind a sheet ;)


Then it was off to the parade. They had to line up by 4 pm (the parade didn't start until 6) so we were a little worried about how all the kids would hold up, but I think for the most part they did great.

Here is the little blurp they read about Dad and o ur entry as they rode by the announcer stations:

"David Skelton was known throughout Bountiful for his custom-improved bikes he rode in the Parade with his children over the years, as well as his 60’ treehouse. He was a master of making something out of nothing. His children and grandchildren honor the legacy and memory of this modern-day pioneer of sacrifice and innovation with their entry today that includes the bike he rode in the parade year after year."

We only had a couple of mishaps...near the beginning of the parade the little firetruck Aeden was riding tipped over landing on top of him. He was pretty shook up...a sweet man on the sidelines ran up with ice and a napkin that Aeden refused to let go of for the rest of the night :) Then, a ways down, one of the special needs parade walkers tripped, and one of the jeeps from the jeep posse ran over her leg. That scared the kids a bit, and held things up, but after a short delay, they picked back up again. We're hoping it wasn't too bad, poor thing!

Liah kept going back and forth if she wanted to ride her own bike or ride with Bryan...finally deciding to ride with Bryan. Of course 30 seconds into the parade she changed her mind and had a hard time letting go of the fact that she couldn't ride her own bike :) I met her 3/4 of the way through the parade and had her come sit with me.

It was also funny because the actual clowns (the ones wielding the 12 foot unicycles) were riding with Bryan also, so people kept asking them if they were Skeltons...probably confused them pretty good :)

It was a wonderful day, and a lasting memory we won't soon forget.