July 3 through July 5th, 2007

July 3rd We had four busy days at home making freezer jam before it was time to head back to the beach house for the 4th of July gathering. Kent's girls and their families joined us there for three days. We went to the tavern for Chicken and Jo Jo's for dinner on Tuesday night. Wednesday the 4th we were up early eating breakfast and getting ready for the big day. Maya made a flag and stuck it to a big stick to take to the parade. (picture) Kent went and parked the truck in our favorite parking place so we can line our chairs up to watch the parade. ( Pictures) You would think it was a "Macy's" parade the way we all act. For such a small town, they really have a nice parade with families participating together in it. There is always so much candy thrown at the parade, the kids all caught a huge amount, that made it all the more fun. After the parade we went home and ate lunch and headed back to the activities of the day. They always have money buried on a tarp covered with sand for the different age groups to dig through the sand and find. I think they have $30 in coins hidden in the sand. Maya always does good with this game. The boys and Anna entered in the foot races and the 3 legged race. Josh and Brandon both won $12 . There is music playing, a lot of people fly kites and there is a lot of food booths to snack at. They also have an auction with a lot of neat things donated by the business's and people. There is usually a good crowd for that.
After the city's activities were over, we came home and the kids played on the beach and the adults sat in their lawn chairs and visited. That evening Kent grilled hamburgers for us and by the time we cleaned up the dinner mess, it was time for the kids to start shooting off fire works. By dusk, the beach is full of camp fires and people shooting off the pretty fire works or should I say the BIG fire works.There are sure a lot of illegal fire works going on. Kent says it looks like a war zone. I think I agree.(picture)
The next morning after breakfast we cleaned the house and changed all the beds for the next big gathering we will have. Probably Thanksgiving Dinner. That will be here before we know it I am sure.