There's no place like home....

If you have never experienced the 4th of July in Soda Springs, you just haven't experienced it!

 

It starts off with "Foam in the Park", which my mom took pics of this year so I don't have...

The firemen have a heyday as they cover a large grass area with "foam".  This is the stuff used to put out fires, and I don't know who discovered it is safe to play in.  So children and adults in their swimsuits and grubbies run around in this stuff and come out looking like marshmallow men.  Then they go to another fireman who sprays them down with their hose.  I haven't heard of any where else that celebrates using fireman foam.  

It was at this event that I ran into my friend Erin who teased me about blogging every 7 months, so this one's for you, Erin!  

Speaking of which, everyone comes home for the Fourth.  Unlike Christmas, when we may all be home but cozied up inside, we all come to City Park.  I saw two classmates I hadn't seen in over 15 years this weekend, as well as many more.  It is fun to visit and share life stories.

So then there are the City fireworks (which I haven't gone to in a while because we own a campground-- ) where a local performer will get on a stage and sing for a while.  Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not so good, but either way you love it because it is live and it is your town.  Our children dance to the music and play with cousins until it is dark, and then we snuggle in blankets and watch the sky and listen to patriotic songs.   Then we wrap up our often sleeping children and pack them home silently along with the rest of the slow moving vehicles waiting to get out of the park.

More festivities:

The fun run, which I experienced last year, which was a torturous experience (I agree with my mom, who feels the words "fun" and "run" don't belong together), happens early in the morning.  I ran for my friend Robert, who passed away, and actually it was neat to run with so many who love and miss him.  

Many of my family loves to run in this and I am very happy for them that they do.

The Lion's Pancake Breakfast, which is fun because sweet old guys in yellow vests serve it, brings out a slew of people, and you visit while you wait in the long line and sit at the tables.  Yesterday I was bringing my family through, and they asked us each how many sausages we would like.  I asked for two, and two for Nathan, and we went on to get eggs and drinks, etc.  I didn't hear Saxton ask for 10!  When we got to the table, he put his heavily laden plate down and I about died!  He ate them all, except for the one that Uncle Matt took.

Saxton's plate..

So then there is the parade, which is the greatest hometown parade in the world because you know everyone in it and you know who made the floats and you cheer them all on, and I especially liked this little float with 3 siblings on it....

As many of our cousins come, and this was some of them:

 And they catch candy together.  My nephew Boston would try out the candy and put back with the rest, for safe keeping.  Note the bitten taffy and sucked-on sucker below:

I thought this was a funny present he left.

So, if you haven't had enough festive times yet, then it is on to the carnival, where everything is free.

Here are the children riding on this awesome little ferris wheel:

   

This is Brinley with her friend, Olivia, whom she adopted for the weekend and loved to be her "big sister", Brin looks scared, which is strange because she doesn't get scared!

  

Happy Ellie and cousin Nya

    

My boys how I love them!

 

Wonderful day.

Then it is on to mom's house for a barbecue.

  

That's my cute mom on the right.  I kind of look like her mom, she's so with-it.  She even made her own shoes to wear this day.  I should have taken pictures.  They were white with red polka dots, and then she put a red flower on each.  She's a doll.

And that, my friends, is the way Independence Day could properly be spent.