4th of July Weekend

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love watching fireworks, swimming, and having BBQ so it is perfect. The past two years we have stayed in Portland, but this year we mixed it up. We decided to go visit my brother and his family in Idaho. On Thursday, I worked a half day and then we loaded up the car and headed out. We hit some traffic getting out of Portland, but it was smooth sailing after that. We got to Meridian around 7:30 and at dinner at Chick fil A, which had opened recently. It was amazing! 

Then we left with milkshakes in hand to finish the rest of the drive. Oh, and we got gas! Then the last leg of the trip wasn't bad and we finally arrived in Sugar City around 12:30AM. Celeste and David, along with Hyrum and his friend, Denver, pulled up at the same time. We headed to bed shortly thereafter so we wouldn't be too tired.

Friday morning, the boys were the first to wake up. They were all together in one room and sounded like a herd of elephants next to us so sleeping time was over! We got up and had pancakes for breakfast. Then we got ready and headed to Rexburg for the parade. It was already pretty warm and we were too late to get a shady spot, but it was a good candy spot. The boys got lots!

The whole gang with Oma as the photographer!

After we picked up our race packets and then went to the rental house. We ate pizza and cooled off in the shade. Then we got a tour of the rental and all the work that had been done! After lunch, we went swimming in a very warm pool and had so much fun. We came home and got ready for the day and then worked on the food and had some down time. We took naps, colored, and relaxed.

Dinner was a huge success of ribs, potato salad, pork & beans, donuts, chips, and cole slaw. I ate so much! Then Celeste and Dave made a birthday cake for America!

We then started some fireworks. The boys loved every minute and love fire just as much as Spencer! Then we still had an hour or so until it was dark enough for the real fireworks, so Bryce and I went on a bike ride with the boys. It was idyllic riding around the small town of Sugar City with the park, water tower, and church a block away, and no traffic lights. Plus, the sunset was beautiful and Mason rode the whole time on his tiny tricycle, that kid is determine. We then started the real fireworks and had so much fun!

Saturday, we woke up and got ready for the 5K race. Spencer, Miriam, Darin, Bryce, and I were all set to go and went in the first wave of runners. Here we are all clean!

Darin set our pace and we had fun running through Rexburg getting color all over us! We finished at the park where we met up with David, Celeste, and the boys. Logan and Mason got in on the color throwing action too!

 We are so colorful!

 

 So fun!

 After the race, we picked up the raft and came home. We got cleaned up and packed ready for our next adventure down the Snake River. So first, we ate lunch on the river bank because David and Spencer had to take a car to the end point. When they got back, we started going down the river just letting the current take us. We got in and out of the raft floating on life jackets and the boys tried some fishing. It was great!

 The boys really did love it, but they wanted to fish and were told to wait!

After about 4 hours though we had to start paddling because the wind was too strong and we weren't moving. It all sounded good when we thought we were 80% there, but after a quick GPS check we discovered we were only 60% to the end point. The paddling picked up to near ramming speed, but we lacked the coordination and organization to make the efforts truly effective.

I did try to keep the crowd entertained as I yelled repeatedly "ROW" or "DINNER", but to no avail. The tempest tossed, "hangry" masses were done with the river, rafting, and paddle. Poor Logan feel asleep sitting up!

 When we finally reached the shore, we got going on dinner making kebabs and cobbler. Then the boys went fishing!

Unfortunately, there wasn't a grill so we had to make one! All in all it all worked out with some improvising.

Pretty clever!

We then headed home at 9:30PM very tired, but with another grand memory together. Mason all tucker'd out!

Sunday, we all got up early and packed up. We ate some cereal and chatted before we had to say our goodbyes. Hate when the party is over. The drive home felt much longer, but we did stop in Boise for lunch and ate Cafe Rio! And the drive through Oregon was pretty.

God Bless the USA!