Happy 4th of July!

On July 3rd, we celebrated Independence Day, by participating in the neighborhood kid parade.

For the last 2 years, we had family in town to celebrate with us. Jared, Teresa and family had planned on coming this year, but things came up last minute, so we were on our own to decorate scooters.

Treyson went All American with a USA sign and blue stars.

Abree had my help to cover her scooter and herself, in some of the extra fabric and rag garland we had made for decoration.

Taylee was creative (as usual) and used some flag tissue paper (her Primary teacher had given her) and tinfoil (for stars) to make her scooter sign.

Rylee thought she was too old to participate, but was a good sport (as much as a COOL teenager can be) going to the parade with us.

It was uncharacteristically cool that morning. We all brought our jackets and kept them on until the very end. Brrrr.

When the fire engine showed up, the kids got excited!

As is tradition, we followed the fire engine on foot, bike, wagon and scooter.

Rylee and Abree kind of hung in the back.

While Taylee and Treyson rode the bumper of the fire truck the whole way.

When Abree would get tired of scootering, Rylee would push as Abree rode. What a nice sister!

After making it through the neighborhood and around the common area, the fire truck stopped.

Kids gathered at the pavilion for Otter Pop Popsicles, while the firemen prepared their hoses.

Then they let the kids take turns shooting the hoses across the grass.

Don't look like you're having ANY fun Abree! Good job.

Last year it was HOT, the mist from the fire hoses got everyone wet and it felt SO good.
This year was chilly, I didn't let Treyson get wet even after he begged and begged and promised me he wouldn't complain about being cold. Ya, right. He cheered up when it was his turn to shoot the fire hose.

On the actual 4th of July, we took a family walk around the neighborhood, when it was starting to get dark. We enjoyed watching everyone else's fireworks.

That's the way to go! Lots of firework watching at no cost to us!

We kept walking until we came to the really BIG (like professional grade) fireworks at the edge of our neighborhood. Some friends from the ward offered us chairs and invited us to watch the BIG show. They were amazing! --We found out in conversation, that the big fireworks were coming from a ward member's house (our former Stake President). We were told he had only spent $1,000 this year, instead of $3,000 (darn economy!). It was better than going to the park or fair grounds. Up close and personal and NO traffic to get home. :)

We had a happy 4th of July!