A Fantastic 4th
We had a wonderful 4th of July!! One of the very best. We spent the weekend out at the lake with family and it was grand. We started the day off with the boat parade on the lake. The kids absolutely love this and I do too. Most people participate and the docks are loaded with people waving and cheering as you go by. It's festive and fun.
Ailey and Bryn out on the dock waiting to hop into the boat. This year they both wanted 4th of July dresses.
River and Brynnie
Dane and Kam
Next year we are going to have Kameron out on the bow of the boat playing The Star Spangled Banner on his trumpet. Wish we thought of it this year!! The kids were all singing patriotic songs, waving flags, honking the horn, and wishing everyone a "Happy Fourth of July." They were a very patriotic bunch.
Their moms are pretty patriotic too!!
After the parade we took a few pictures before we let the kids jump in the lake. We wanted them clean and dry just for a few pictures. It was much harder than you would imagine. Nearly impossible. Ailey is, in fact, soaking wet already due to the usual water fight antics that go on during the boat parade. Ha ha.
Dane and River
Stacey and my Aunt Margaret. Margaret was busy in the kitchen making potato croquettes.
The rest of us were all out on the dock, soaking up the sunshine, and watching the kids swim. Reilly who had been inside Lilac Lodge came running out on to the dock screaming "GUESS WHO IS HERE?!?!" "Who?" we said. (We were waiting for my cousin Justin and his family to arrive.) UNCLE MIKE AND AUNT BONNIE!! We said, "You're full of it..." "NO! I promise!! They are in the driveway!!" That caused a stampede as we all went running to the other side of the house...and there they were!! Pure happiness. It was the BEST.SURPRISE.EVER.
My awesome Uncle Mike currently has some health issues and there was not even the hint of a possibility (we thought!) of them joining us. We were missing them terribly and I had just been in the kitchen with Stacey and Margaret talking to them about making some videos that we could send them...and then here they were!! We were all in tears of joy to see these two wonderful people.
My mom and my Uncle Steve hurried and called their other brother, my Uncle John, and told him to get out to the lake right away because Mike and Bonnie were there!! He and my Aunt Ade came immediately. We had a great time talking and laughing out on the deck with everyone. My grandma was there as well and had a smile on her face. I am so glad that they got to spend some time together.
Reilly, Justin, Tyler, Bonnie, Paige, Hannah, Mike
It was a wonderful day of food, family,water, fun and fireworks. Pretty much everything you need for a stellar 4th of July. The cousins all had a great time together and it really turned out to be the perfect day!!
Kam and Grace
Haylee and Ailey
Bryn, Dane, River and Gavin
The weather got especially nice in the afternoon and it was heavenly to just hang out and soak it all in. 100% pure relaxation.
Stacey's husband, John, had his baby goshawk out socializing it. It can't fly yet but is getting pretty close. Bryn thought he was wonderful!! John is a falconer and always has gorgeous birds of prey for the kids to touch, pet, and learn about up close.
After a day of fun in the sun and on the water it was finally time for fireworks!! We let the kids have fun with the smaller fireworks and then it was off to the dock for the big ones!!
John and Tyler doling out the sparklers to the kiddies!!
Thank goodness fireworks are legal in Idaho!! (Not the case in Spokane.) This is Tyler and John's happiest time of the year. They spend hours blowing things up and setting off fireworks. This year Kameron was right in the thick of things with them. Another young pyromaniac is born!! Surprisingly they all lived to tell the tale and spent the night entertaining us with their antics. Fireworks on the 4th has bonded them more than anything as brothers-in-law over the years. They were laughing like loons all night. Inside every grown man truly is a 12 year old boy. My mom took a big boat load of kids out to the middle of the lake to watch the fireworks show. Once again the Canadians put on a great show...but I have to say John with his big box of *fireworks* did Echo Beach proud. He had some absolutely amazing ones this year!! Impressive.
These girls were out like lights!!
The next day was pretty much spent in the boat dragging kids around the lake. The weather was hot and sunny. Perfection.
Grace, Ailey, Haylee, and Gavin
Reilly and Ailey heading out. The kids discovered that wearing swim goggles helps immensely whist tubing. Ha ha!!
River and Kam
Bryn raring to go!!
The craziest tubers of the bunch were Reilly and Dane. They have no fear and don't even like to hold on but Dane does have his swim goggles on for good measure. Ha ha.
Grandma Vic giving somebody a wild ride.
Ailey and Haylee (yes, they rhyme) patiently waiting their turn. Such beauties!!
Stacey, Ailey, Haylee, and Grace leaped off the boat at Point Delight for a little swim to cool off.
Tyler inside briefly... helping my Aunt Bonnie with some computer issues.
It was another great day out at the lake!! Lots of laughs...seriously a lot of laughing!! My Uncle Mike is one of the most hilarious people I know. I seriously was laughing non-stop!! We all had great conversations, renewed those family bonds of love, reminisced, and had an awesome time. Truly some wonderful memories were made over the weekend including...Reilly and the great cherry adventure of 2014. Booyah!! Ha Ha!! "SOS puking!!" "Want some cherries little girl?" Ha ha. This Fourth of July weekend was truly a gift and we are a blessed family.
Hope that you had an amazing Fourth of July as well!! God Bless America!!
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