Happy 4th of July!

We always manage to fit a lot into our day on the 4th of July. This year we repeated a lot of what we did last year and edited out an activity or two to save our sanity.

We attended our churches annual 4th of July breakfast. The kids sang "You're A Grand Old Flag" and "America The Beautiful" as part of the patriotic program. Lorien and her friend, Ellie, got to open "The Door to the Past" for our distinguished visitors: George Washington, Betsy Ross and Abraham Lincoln. Additionally, we all stuffed ourselves with pancakes, bacon, fruit and juice--an award-winning way to start our festivities.

After breakfast we packed a lunch and headed up the road to the Jr. Rodeo. The kids watched as the Rodeo Princesses and Queen rode in on their horses, roped cattle and the rodeo boys tried to stay on a jumping cow for 8 seconds. At last, it was the moment they'd all been waiting for...the pig scramble!

(Don't they look excited? Well, they are...)

Wyatt managed to grab a pig again this year, narrowly avoiding getting pooed on by said pig and earned a trophy.

Lorien had to move up an age group this year and the rules were stricter. Even though she helped carry a pig in with three other kids she did not get a trophy. Lorien was disappointed but maybe she'll get a trophy next year.

Clare watched from the safety of the stands, bravely cheering her brother and sister on.

With the rodeo activities successfully concluded with one cotton candy and two snow cones we got ready to watch the fireworks.

The show was awesome! The kids were as patient as they could be waiting for the sun to set and the sky to darken for the fireworks. We were thankful for our friends who kept us company as we passed the time. I was super thankful to the same friends who graciously introduced themselves to an old friend of mine whose name I could not remember! That's what friends are for...

Happy 4th of July! (Don't you think I deserve a nap?)