The 4th of July

Our 4th of July celebration started on the 3rd. After a fun day out on the lake, we showered and headed to the park to be a part of the huge party West Point throws every year. I really couldn't believe it. They had cheap food, a band stand, all kinds of competitions, dozens of crafts and prize activities (for free!), a reptile display, a climbing wall and bounce houses and obstacle courses for the kids. Cori and Cory joined forces and entered the horseshoe competition. Ray and Ethan did too. The Cor(y)(i)s made it through their second round and were on their way to horseshoe glory until they got beat by a very intense competitor the next day. We were real proud of them anyway.

I love Gracie's crazy muppet hair

Aunt Megan is a favorite

The next day started bright and early with a 6:30 am 5K. That we got involved in this race is actually a funny story which I will relate in the responsible parties' own words. Most of our planning was communicated through email. You should also know that Cori's family can be a bit competitive, and they like to throw around a lot of smack. Ironically, I kind of started the whole thing, though I choose to hold Cory and Cori primarily responsible:

We'll do bfast on Saturday. For any who are going to the flag raising that morning...you'll have to eat when you get back. :)

Love you all!

Jesse

What?  Isn't EVERYONE getting up to go to the flag raising? Come on, where is your patriotic spirit, your gratitude, your pride in country????  I expect to see everyone there at 6:00 a.m. sharp!

Love

Mom

Forget the flag raising - who wants to do the 5k run that morning? We can all get patriotically motivated, and then use that motivation to run 5k.  AWESOME!

Cory 

Cory, always looking for the easy way out. We could be at the Flag raising, run the 5K, then spend the rest of the day volunteering for the city and their activities. 

Ray

Hey, then Damien could show us this neat little trick that he learned on another 4th of July Holiday long ago.  I think it has to do with lighting fireworks and then holding them in his hand...it'll be a complete day! No, really though, if anyone wants to run the 5k - I'm in...Jesse and I are 'training' for a 5k in Freeport in August.

Cori

It is all fun and games until someone throws the gauntlet (Cory) and then someone else calls the bluff (Cori). And the suckers who actually ran that morning? Cory, Cori, me and my awesome sister, Sara, who is always up for anything. I was actually glad that we did it. Cori ran it in just over 24 minutes. Cory was only a few minutes behind him. I was not far behind Cory and shaved three minutes off the time of my practice run. And Sara chopped a whopping seven minutes off her last 5k time. We all felt pretty good about ourselves. 

After the race, we ran home and Cori and I made this for breakfast (mostly so we could all have flags for the parade):

Fearless runners of 5k's. And no, we did not wear the same outfit on purpose.

Arianne and her cute boys

Grant has been perfecting his baby yoga. See here: downward dog

After the parade, we played around at the park for a while. Damien, Brittany and Ethan competed in a pie eating contest and almost took the show. Damien graciously bowed out to the 15 year old who didn't quite beat him- technically. You can see some pictures here.

That afternoon, we hung out at Cory and Brit's house. Grace spent luxurious hours playing school with her cousins. Grandpa Randy and Ethan finished digging the pit for the trampoline to be lowered into. Uncle Damien played ball with the kids. And the rest of us stretched out in the shade under the tramp. Ray and Sandy made a HUGE dinner for everyone and afterwords, we went to the park to play some sand volleyball. We tried to get a picture of the 10 grandkids together, but had to settle for 8 with a few tears thrown in.

We heart Demo.

Charlie lamenting that there is not another shovel

Grant finally decided to be happy for the silly picture

The city did all their fireworks on the evening of the 3rd. Our kiddo's were past ready for bed by that time Friday night and missed the show. But Aunt Brittany had some sparklers and she let Gracie go through one whole package. We also got to see a neighborhood fireworks show right out their dining room window. Everyone slept the sleep of the just and the free that night. It was a wonderful holiday.