A Near Death Experience . . .

     The Stadium of fire is one of my greatest childhood memories!  It was all so exciting - so many people, the music, the anticipation, the tangible buzz in the air.  We were always packed up with a couple of blankets and sweatshirts for after dark when the chill would hit the air.  I remember snuggling up with my parents, eyes to the sky, the warmth of the blankets and the heat from the fireworks as the largest ones would fill the sky.
      I have never seen anything like the Stadium of Fire since I left Utah.  Every firework show has paled in comparison.  I was so anxious for my girls to feel the magic of the night.  I was especially excited when I found out that Carrie Underwood was coming.  This single event is what coerced me into making the decision to stay in Utah for over four weeks!  I wanted to come for my family reunion at the end of July but I just couldn't miss the Fourth and all of its promised memories! 
     You can imagine the satisfaction I felt when we felt the deep boom of the first  firework as it exploded into the air! Audrey literally shrilled with delight!  Suddenly, the little body beside me tucked into a tight ball and began shuddering with terror!  Rachel was NOT having it.  She wouldn't even watch!  We reassured her repeatedly that everything would be fine.  "Just look up Rachel, it's so neat!  They are not going to hurt you!"  After several minutes of coxing from the adults, she finally settled into her seat and actually began enjoying herself.  With a little residual apprehension she started to smile and even laugh! 
     That's when it happened!  We were seated on the field nearest the stage and one of the lights had been set with fireworks that went off in the top of the pole. They were supposed to shoot straight up into the air but they began shooting right into the audience!!!  Right towards us!!!  The people in the seats in front of us began to pop up like popcorn kernels out of their seats and into the bleachers.  The next thing I knew I was hovered on the ground under a chair with Rachel folded up under my body.  Tyler had jumped over his chair and covered Marlee, Audrey, myself, and Rachel under a great umbrella of blanket with his long arms.  I was TERRIFIED!  I didn't know if it was going to keep coming at us.  Thoughts raced through my mind of the ensuing panic, crowds of people running from the stadium, mass hysteria, clothes on fire, it was all too surreal!
     Fortunately, they did not keep coming.  For the rest of the night I could never be too sure.  My Rachel was petrified!  She was literally screaming, "I want to go home!  I want to get out of here!"  I picked her up and ran towards the exit only to realize that to get out I would have to go to the exit nearest the stage and the empty side of the stadium where a lot of the inside fireworks were going off.

Not. A. Chance.

    Instead, we ran into the middle of the field and sat with a group of others seated on blankets.  Everyone around me was looking at my hysterical child.  None of them had seen what happened.  I looked at them sympathetically but what could I do?  We were trapped.  The rest of the night felt like a dream. I felt so terrible.  This was not the experience that I wanted my girls to have.  Audrey was amazingly logical.  She received the comfort of her Grammy and continued to watch (and enjoy) the rest of the fireworks from the comfort of Grammy's lap.  Once we finally got back to the car Rachel was saying things like, "I am NEVER coming to Utah again!  Never!" 

Lovely.

      She emphasized that she would not ever watch fireworks again for the rest of her life.

    The trauma of the experience has since worn off and I am happy to report that we will be returning to Utah.  Rachel has even come around to mentioning her fond memories of the event.  PHEW!  For the record, Carrie Underwood put on a great show and we REALLY had so much fun!  Furthermore, no one was seriously injured and I do not think they will be doing in stadium fireworks again. 

STADIUM OF FIRE!!!!



                   They asked every Eagle Scout in the Stadium to hold up this paper and make the Eagle Scout sign.  It was incredible to see how many Eagle Scouts there were in a Stadium that size!  It was practically every 10 people!         

                        

Tyler held up the wrong hand!

He soon realized and switched hands.

Me and My cute Girls



Audrey Singing



Dancing

We had the most gorgeous Sunset over the stadium.

Here is Miss Underwood herself!  We had great seats.