Stars 'n Stripes Forever

Some might disagree, but we had perfect weather this 4th of July; warm and overcast, with an excellent chance of major downpour, which came and left at just the right time in the festitivies...we were kind of relieved to break tradition and not invite folks over for BBQ-ing; we used our 2+ hours of inside confinement for a ripping game of "Life." Shane learned the hard way that college is a good decision for anyone's future...
The Crawfords enter the Meadows Bike Parade...not as decorated as we'd like, but a great time nonetheless.

Snow cones all around, as well as bounce houses, game booths, crafts, and the never-improving face-painting station: I can't be the only one who thinks that more than one person should be employed at their art and that lines should be ideally less than 60 minutes per child, right?

The full crew, all accounted for. This NEVER happens.

After lunch and happy naps, we headed for a wonderful 15-minute swim at The Grange...here, captured for all to see, is Shane's great skill and whatever you call what it is that he is doing.

You might get the impression from this Blog that all Gracie does is walk around with her head in her hands, but she truly is a sunshiny personality. Exceptions: 4th of July at the Grange, pre-rainshower.

Post-rainshower.

We figured the ground was wet enough to accommodate Crawford kids holding sparklers (because somehow, in a semi-rural community with vast amounts of open field, the powers-that-be feel it's safe to allow fireworks)...next year we'll get more adventurous.

Beware: Jedi Knight and his weapon.

Such sparkling personalities...

and that night, from our damp back deck, wrapped in our sweatshirts and blankets, we could see 4 different fireworks shows, the valley covered in the smoke from private explosions.