Happy 4th of July folks.

[Gan]

Hope everyone (who's celebrating US Day of Independance) had a wonderful and safe 4th of July.

We spent the afternoon with family and then drove out to see a big fireworks show. Watching my 4 yr. old son marvel at the huge displays was really quite neat.

:unclesam:

[Jolena]

Our eldest is visiting my dad, so James and I just did a little fireworks display of our own at home along with all the neighbors. Our five year old loved it and the seven year old girl spent hours dancing around with sparklers and marvelling at the different shapes she could make with the 'glowy lines' hehe. It was fun.

Happy fourth to everyone else as well.

[Augie]

I am still out in Utah and I went over to Nutmegg's house. He and his son and his friend and her daughter and I all hiked up this hill so we could see the entire valley. It was so awesome seeing the fireworks with the background of the mountains.

It was absolutely amazing. I hope everyone else had a happy 4th!

[Lomoriond]

For the first time ever, I didn't get dragged off into the sweltering heat or the pouring rain (those are the only two 4th of July settings no matter where I happen to be that year) to watch some random fireworks show.

INSTEAD, I drank until my eyes crossed, made a great big steak and got every screen in the house tuned to different firework shows... I simultaneously watched the Vancouver, Chicago, Seattle, New York and Portland firework shows WHILE watching three separate groups of neighbors light off what passes for firecrackers these days.

I ate like a pig, drank like a fish and oggled like a tried and true american jackass... and got paid for an 8 hour work day. God bless the USA!

[B4Hand]

We spent the morning at the Bethany USA city Parade. It was terrific, just like the ones we had when I was a kid. Streets lined with people, everyone waving a little American Flag, honors given to those who have served this country or who are now doing so. The Grande Marshalls were the parents of a local boy who recently died in Iraq. I have to admit when I saw his mother's face as they drove by, I teared up. My daughter marched with her cheer squad in the parade, I got insanely sunburned.

We then headed to the local park, for all sort of activities. There were tons of "Fair" type foods, arts and crafts booths, a huge car show, and several local bands played on the main stage, as well as a fellow who drew these large art pieces(which were very nice) to three patriot songs. We enjoyed the music, though Harvey and the Wallbangers (50-70's music) was the biggest hit, lots of people dancing and generally having a great time.

Ended the evening with a wonderful display of Fireworks, and accompanied by patriotic musice, quotes, and poems.

Yay for America!~

K