Three Cheers For the Red, White and Blue!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

I thought I'd better blog about the Fourth of July before I forget everything. What a crazy weekend! We yankeed and we doodled and we had a dandy time! (And now I'm exhausted and I have a headache! All part of the package.)

Friday night was the best--after a great BBQ and birthday party for my niece Ruby (Happy birthday Rubykins!)we headed to the fireworks at the stadium. Oh how we love the fireworks at the stadium! And yes, we always go inside--it's such a party! (SOAPBOX WARNING) I believe in paying to go in so that they'll continue to have the money to do it every year! (End of soapbox.) Bethany loved watching the military fly-over ("Big plane come back!"), watching "Big Blue" on the field, and doing the hokey-pokey with thousands of other people. I tried to prepare her for the fireworks and how loud they would be, and I think my efforts paid off because she really liked them a lot! At first, she just snuggled into me and looked a little wary (it doesn't help that it's so late and she's barely keeping her eyes open) but she totally got into it! Nieces Ruby, Lizzy and Macy all liked them, too--well, Macy just slept through the whole thing. Pretty good for a two-month-old.

James, Tracee, Ruby and Macy:



Julie and Lizzy:



Grandpa and Bethany:



Saturday morning, Bethany, my dad, and I woke up bright and early and headed out to the Lewiston parade. When we got to Lewiston, the police officer guiding traffic made us park down this road that was TOTALLY far away from the parade route. (I'm thinking at least two miles but as time goes by, the distance gets longer!) So like the pioneers of old, we had to walk, and walk, and walk and WAAAAALLLKKK! Carrying a two-year-old (yours truly forgot the stroller) and heavy parade chairs. Oh, and the heavy diaper bag. If anyone who reads this knows, please tell me why in the world the officer made us park far, far away when there was plenty of parking close to the parade route? Help me understand? Let's just say I DESERVED all those Golden Oreos I ate the night before at the fireworks, and I definitely walked them off by hiking the Lewiston parade.

As soon as we got back from Lewiston, it was time to hit the Hyrum City parade. (Yes, we're parade goers!) So we swung by the house to pick up James (hubby), James (brother), Tracee (sister-in-law), and nieces (Ruby and Macy)and head to Hyrum. We had a much more pleasant experience this time--we parked two blocks away (maybe Lewiston could pick up a few tips from Hyrum, here--I'm not bitter--I'm really not) and found a place right under a shady tree. The temperature was perfect and the girls had a ball catching all of the candy with their dads. (Isn't that just a dad's job--to teach kids how to gather parade candy? SO American.)

Dads and Daughters--The Training Begins:



The Race For The Taffy:



It seems to me that one could just drive down the street to Macey's and buy ten tons of salt water taffy for a nickel, but I guess that would take out the thrill of the hunt, huh?

Eureka! Now, Which Candy to Choose?



And (TANGENT WARNING) speaking of saltwater taffy--here's a secret: I just don't like it. I try to like it every year, and I just don't. Okay, so the cinnamon ones are pretty good. But I'd eat dirt if it tasted like cinnamon! Don't you think that saltwater taffy just tries too hard to be candy? (END OF TANGENT)

After the parade, we did various and sundry things that were totally NOT Fourth of July related while the girls took naps, then we made tostadas for the family and ate them! (Yes, we ate Mexican on the Fourth of July! Viva Mexico! Is my tostada eating plus my distaste for saltwater taffy going to paint me as un-American?) After dinner, we said goodbye to my family and James, Bethany and I went to see some friends and their annual fireworks extravaganza, which was fun, especially since no one set themselves on fire.

And then we called it a night! Another fun Fourth of July come and gone. We love the Fourth of July. We love our country (despite the tostadas). We are grateful for our freedoms and for those who fight for us so we can go to fireworks and parades and sing The Star-Spangled Banner with tears in our eyes. Happy Independence Day, everybody!