Weekend of Independence Celebrations

Our 4th of July celebration consisted of a visit to a veteran's cemetery, picnic at a park, a bbq, a fireworks show, and games. Each day of the long weekend had an adventure.

FRIDAY:
To start off the patriotic weekend I decided that we should visit the veteran's cemetery here in town. I knew I'd seen a sign for it in my regular daily excursions. I did a quick map search on-line to make sure we headed down the correct road.

We arrived an hour or so before a funeral was scheduled to start but that still gave us time to enjoy the spirit of the memorial.

I want to be known as a Spunky Great Grandmother

Some of the headstones had their spouses information on the back.

These individuals had their ashes scattered in this area.

Never found out exactly what these plaques were for.

A different view of a cemetery than usual.

Headstones like we'd seen up by the American Flag at the top of the hill.

 

I liked these two benches. They were across from each other with these sides facing each other.

WWI Vet!

That evening we took a little trip to the elementary school down the street for some photos. That part of the weekend I'll do in it's own post.

SATURDAY:

Andy & Angela called to see if we wanted to join them at Camelback Park here in town for a picnic. We jumped at the chance to spend some more time with them. Dan and I arrived before the rest of the gang. As we waited for them I watched the groups of people hiking up a steep hill. I was so glad that wasn't our plan for the day. Then when Andy & Angela arrived something was said about climbing the hill. WHAT?! Isn't the idea of a park to play in the grass and playground equipment NOT overexert on not the vertical climb in front of us? Guess not because we all took the direct path up the hill.

 Off we go!

Some of us stopped along the way to rest....

Jess (and Ty at the top) showing off their speed.

Andy made sure Trace arrived at the top then went back down to help Gabby. What a dad!

Here we are at the TOP! WOO HOO US!!!!

 After our adventure hiking the vertical climb we ate and then Dan & I introduced them to the game of Bocce Ball. With 9 of us and only 8 balls we were creative as we threw the "snitch" and then tried to hit it with the "bludgers" (Yes a little Harry Potter as we awaited the final installment and did our best to keep the 5 year old entertained too.) Of course Dan couldn't just play it the way the instructions said, we did teams and had 2 or 3 tries to get the our ball close to the snitch and ended up playing for about an hour before boredom and heat exhaustion set in.

From L to R: Gabby, Andy, Angela, Jessica, Trace, Dan, Ty, & Jordan

Ty & Jordan look like they are doing some major plotting but I don't remember that it worked.

With Dan's variation on the game we all headed to our bludgers to not forget where they were.

Right at the end Andy asks if he can try to hit the snitch and land closer to it. Yes, that is a strategy that's legal; thank goodness it wasn't one that worked leaving someone else the winner.

SUNDAY:

Church and a bit of a Holiday day of rest.

MONDAY:

We had a casual morning then headed over to Andy & Angela's to join their neighbors for some fun, food, and games. First were games. We were all divided into teams and then headed to different stations in the park to play the game set up there; water balloon volleyball, football punting, frisbee throwing, and my favorite marshmallow dodgeball! There were even a "minute to win it" game: using only facial expressions to get an Oreo from your forehead into your mouth.

Then it was over to Andy & Angela's for a bbq, visiting, an eternally long game of Spud, and neighborhood fireworks.

A 3 day weekend full of fun, family, friends, food, and festivities; just as is should be.

Two June Birthday Boys In The House!

I'd thought I'd go through the Facebook messages that arrived on Dan's birthday this year but I don't think I'll bother (to see last year's post, click here). I will say that even though I put a couple message on our "Wall" again this year, there was much confusion stirred as to who's birthday it was. As a result, neither of us have our birthday's posted on Facebook any longer.

Despite the confusion on our social network page, there was no confusion in the house who's birthday it was. June 2nd it was about DAN the MAN! (His family's nickname for him, not mine.) We were still living with Andy & Angela and so they helped join in the birthday fun.

Dan had a couple job interviews that day so I had plenty of time to put things in place to party. I picked up some festive decorations and wrapped his gifts. He knew pizza was on the menu so I sent him out to pick it up since I had too many other birthday celebration items to do.

Here are a few pictures of the festivities:

Dan thought he was super cool to get a free dessert from Domino's for his birthday.

I set him straight though. (If you can't read it his plate says "You are Special Today! (only)")

It was fun to have young nieces and nephews around to help celebrate.

I thought these candles were great but found out they burn super fast. Won't be using them again.

Dan knew most of his gifts, like the shoes he'd been wearing for a couple weeks, but I threw some surprises.

A few days later, 6 to be exact, it was our nephew Trace's 5th birthday. Again pizza was the dinner choice but this time at Chuck E Cheese's. We all headed over to play games and enjoy the food before returning to the house for cake and ice cream.

Jordan's pleased with his performance on that game.

The Birthday Boy!

Dan playing a little arcade style Mario Kart.

Ty & Trace playing one of my favorites, air hockey.

This was played by more than one of us.

Andy & Ty with a little "friendly" competition.

Pokemon's alive and well!

Trace was soooo excited when he saw this gift! It was only a matter of minutes before he was outside riding around the neighborhood.

This became known as the "Birthday Flower." One bloomed on Dan's birthday and, thankfully, the other on Trace's birthday.

Boys, hope you both know just how special you are to all of us, even on days other than your birthday. :)

Something to Think About

I just finished Gerald N. Lund's book Divine Signatures. He has a quote in there I loved and need to remember frequently:

The thermostat on the furnace of affliction will not have been set too high for us--though clearly we may think so at the time. Our God is a refining God who has been tempering soul-steel for a very long time. He knows when the right edge has been put upon our excellence and also when there is more in us than we have yet given.
Neal A. Maxwell

Now if only I could keep that in mind when the fire gets turned up hotter than ever before because I generally think the edges have been completed long before He does.