summer fun part I

Chris had a break between summer school sessions, so we spent the past week away from home...hanging out as a family.

We didn't go more than 5 hours from home, but we went back and forth so many directions visiting family that we racked up lots of mileage.

First we started out in Utah at my brother Dan's house.
His oldest child, Alaina got baptized on her 8th birthday.
It was a very special day for a sweet girl. And we were so lucky to spend it with her.



The next day we drove home and reloaded our car and immediately left for a visit to Chris's hometown for the fourth of July festivities.
Our kids were eagerly awaiting the "World Famous" Porcupine Races.

The day started with a parade.




I HAD to take a picture as this "float" went by.


Oh, man. Too funny.
Only in a small town, right?
But I'll tell ya what...my kids haven't gotten so much candy in a parade in their whole lives.

And, of course, the porcupines were paraded through town, also.
The stars of the show.


And we followed them to the field behind the school.
And waited, and waited and waited for the big races to begin.



There was some auctioning of porcupines that had to be done first.


And it took for-ever.
Mostly because we were cooking in the hot sun.
But they were basically betting on the winning porcupine.
And yours truly almost got stuck spending $150 on a stinking little porkie.
Yikes.
I was only trying to wave at my daughter who was sitting across the field in the bleachers.
Oops.
I don't have a lot of experience with this sort of thing.

But finally they got down to business.
Oh I feel like I could fill many blog posts about this.
But we'll just say...a new world champion was crowned.



After a stop at the senior citizen center for lunch, it was back home to grandpa and grandma's to cool off.
They have the perfect slip 'n slide hill.




I know I say this every single year, but I LOVE THIS HOLIDAY.
Sun, family, gratitude, food, and fun.




This post has gotten very long.
So I think I'll end it and make a part two of our week.

Next up...camping!