Fourth of July: Part 2

Fourth of July: Part 2

We had a spectacular Fourth of July weekend!! I will let the pictures do most of the talking. The weather was pretty nice...except for the wind. That was a bummer especially when we wanted to paddle board.

Our lake does a boat parade on the 4th of July and our kids love it. They dress up in their patriotic outfits and usually decorate the boat. Then we join in with other people on the lake in the parade. This year we had a trumpeter playing patriotic music at the head of the parade along side someone dressed as Lady Liberty leading the procession. People all come out on their docks and wave. Water balloons are lobbed from boat to boat and from dock to boat and vice versa. It is always a lot of fun!!

Ailey, Elle, and Bryn

Ailey, River, and Dane

River was the queen of the water balloons this year. She had a whole arsenal of balloons ready for launching.

Heading out!

Elle and River

Kameron and Dane

Stud

Kameron, Bryn, Elle, Ailey, Dane, and River

We were really missing Reilly who wasn't able to come home for the weekend but was enjoying all that Provo has to offer on the 4th of July which is pretty great too!! I love the Freedom Festival there.

The weather wasn't ideal until later in the afternoon so all the grandkids helped my mom make hand pies for dessert. My girls LOVE to bake and they were happy to help grandma make dessert for our 4th of July feast.

Some people were more of a hindrance than a help.  :)

Then the sun finally came out and we headed down to the dock!!

(This holiday was brought to you by the Strawberry Boom! Rockstar. The taste of 4th of July.)

We had a wonderful 4th of July feast that everyone contributed to. We always eat very well at the lake. We enjoyed the boat, the water, and the sunshine that eventually came out.

Then we did some early fireworks because Kelley and Elle had to leave. The dads love doing this together each year. This year Kameron and Dane were their fireworks apprentices.

From his profile in this picture Kameron looks so much like my Great-Grandpa Miley. It's craziness.

Then it was time for sparklers!!

After that the sun was just beginning to dip, a few fireworks were going off over head, and there was patriotic music floating through the air.

It was perfection to be out on my paddle board.

Once it was dark the real fireworks show began. Our lake puts on a fantastic display. Illegal fireworks are purchased in Montana and brought out. Each beach puts on their own competing display. For the first time in 100 years Echo Beach put on it's own amazing show!! John purchased tons of the big huge mortars. He and Tyler shot them off all night!! It was GORGEOUS!! It was like being at a city fireworks display. The kids also shot off about a million bottle rockets too. My grandma would've had a complete aneurysm. Times they are a changin' out at the lake... It was so beautiful and magical. I felt very blessed to be an American and to celebrate freedom.

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing...

The kids took over kitchen duty!

We played with electronics.

We snuggled.

I read out on the dock.

Fish were caught.

Ice cream was eaten.

The kids took up a collection and started saving for a water trampoline.

Raspberries were picked and eaten.

Grandma Vic

And the view was enjoyed!!

It was a wonderful 4th of  July weekend at the lake!!

(We are about to head back out for another 10 days for our family reunion and I can't wait!!)

4th of July Weekend 2016

4th of July Weekend 2016: Part One

Our holiday weekend started earlier in the week. Our family took a trip to Flathead Lake in Montana. It is so gorgeous!! It was a combination of business and pleasure. I had a one day vintage show there and we brought the family along to help and to have a little vacay. It was so much fun!! After that we headed straight to the lake for the 4th of July and stayed for a few days.

We left for Montana at around 3 am on Friday morning. The drive was stunning. We stopped in Libby, MT for breakfast. We love a place called The Last Straw. We ate there the last time we came through and loved it! They have the most fantastic huckleberry pancakes. Wow.

Just some of our stunning views on the way to Flathead Lake.

We got to Somers, MT at around 10 am. I was representing Sisters Creed at The Vintage Whites Market an outdoor vintage and antiques show. We have done several of their other shows...the Christmas Show and the Salt Lake show. But we have never participated in their outdoor summer show.

I hate outdoor shows. It is always too hot or too cold. Too buggy and too dirty. I hate putting so much care and attention into my merchandise and furniture and then having it get dirty and dusty. But... I had heard that this was a great show so I decided to give it a try.

Flathead Lake is so beautiful. I wanted to play on the water but it was a work weekend. :(

We were able to set up as soon as we got into town. Our hotel was right down the street about five minutes away from the venue which was nice for the kids. They were able to help unload and then go cool off and hang out at the hotel.

A few booth pics:

Set-up was super hot and muggy!! It was fun to see a bunch of our friends who were also vendors at this show and catch up with them. The vintage world is full of some of the very best people!! Many have become such dear friends. After I was done I headed back to the hotel to cool off and freshen up. Then we were off to explore. We found an incredible Mexican restaurant. Our dinner was fantastic!! We had a great night!!

The next morning I was up bright and early and headed to the venue. My booth was right next to my friend Rebecca's booth which was fun!! Our friends Brettnie, Todd, and Jane were down the lane as were Candice and her husband and my friend Tiffany was one aisle over. It was great hanging out with all of them!!

Me and Tiffany

Our family with Rebecca

The market is about to open!! It is always exciting to see the long line of people waiting to attend.

Since my mom and Stacey weren't able to do the show, I was glad to have my family as helpers. They really worked hard and put in a full day. They were great to lug furniture, help with customers, sales, and to be runners and go and get drinks and lunch for me and for our friends. Tyler, Kam, and Ailey all took turns helping out in Rebecca's booth too.

These girls were the best!! They loved "running the booth". They were expert helpers, wrappers, and baggers. Bryn made sure that a business card was included in every bag. Could you resist buying something from these cuties?

Kameron did a great job too!! I really appreciate the family support that they give to me. I couldn't do what I do without it. They earned some money, Peacewithin clothing, and ate their weight in shaved ice. It was super hot!!

The market was busy and crowded despite the heat. This is just one little tiny area of the market. There were 150 vendors and crowds were steady all day. That said, while I had a great time, I am still not a fan of outdoor shows. At the end of the day I was dirty and sunburned, my merchandise was covered with dust and I am ready to only do shows that are inside with air conditioning from now on.

We tore down, packed up the trailer, and had dinner in Kalispell before we drove the 4 hours to the lake. All in all, it was a great little getaway for our family. We had a great time, made money, and enjoyed Montana and all it's beauty.

I mean seriously!! How gorgeous is that?! No filter was used either. That is pure Montana sky.

We got to the lake at around 10 pm. My mom, Stacey and John and their kids, and Kelley and Elle were already there. We pulled in, put the kids to bed, and headed out to a roaring bonfire that my family had going. The lake, the fire, the stars were perfection. It was time to relax and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Next up... Part two.