independence day parade & barbecue

This is my first year in the Primary, having served the last 4 years in our ward's Relief Society. So this year I got to join the kids in the annual parade. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot more work than I realized it would be. The day before we had to get the bikes decorated, make something for the potluck breakfast that follows the parade and, in addition, get my house ready for company. I woke up around 7 am to a beautiful day!

Gene (left) helped lead the parade by holding the banner.

festive decorations adorning kids' bikes.

And we're off! The parade starts out a little crowded. That's Sarah in the middle with the pink balloon on her flag pole.

We decorated our dumper wheel barrow like a M*A*S*H jeep and let Morgan ride in it. That's Emma and her fun bike & helmet.

Neighbors sat along the sidelines to wave, shout or throw candy. This is Sis. Ferguson, one of my favorite people in the ward!

The back of Emma's bike.

About half way in the route the kids start spreading out a bit more and the little kids, toddlers & mom's pulling/pushing babies straggle behind.
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BBQ & fireworks:
After the ward breakfast we had a few hours to rest and then Jeff & Felicia's family came over around 4 for dinner & fireworks.

We enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs, brauts, chicken & steak, plus sides of potato salad, green salad, pasta salad, corn on the cob & watermelon. Yuuumm!

We asked Jeff to take over at the BBQ since he is, after all, the master.

Lysette, Sarah & Marianne (Felicia's mom) enjoying our new porch swing & the water mister that Gene hooked up to the tree.

This has all sorts of fun written on it!

Lysette, Jordan "pyro" Wood, Emma, Alyssa & Sarah trying to light their sparklers.

We were one of three or four families on our street to have our own show.

Sarah & Emma getting smoked out.

Our neighbors, who also had their own show, gave us some of their glow sticks--what a good idea, kids always love these things. Uncle Jeff gave Morgan a couple of sticks.

I left the shutter open for a few seconds and this is what Morgan playing with glow sticks looks like. Fun camera, mine.

Some of our yard decorations. She's a grand ol' flag!

The official & professional photo of my nephew, Dean, who's serving in the Air Force and who's currently in Mississippi.

We got to call him before dinner and I asked him if he feels different about Independence Day now that he's in the military, than he did before--if it means more now. He said that much of it hasn't really sunk in yet, but that it was nice, when they went to the mall in their uniforms, to have people stand at attention and clap and thank them for serving our country. Hearing that made my heart swell.

And it got me thinking about the line of men in my family that have served in one arm or another of the military; my dad was also in the Air Force, my brother, Jeff, in the Army, as well as my Grandpa K and Gene's dad. THANK YOU all & we love you Dean!