Happy Birthday, America!

Our family tradition is to go to my parents' cabin in Oakley for the Fourth of July. If you have never spent the 4th in "Small-town, America," you are missing out. The thing I love most about that town is that everyone is sooo friendly. You don't pass someone on the street without them waving and saying, "Howdy!" or "Good morning!" or stopping to chat for a minute--unless they are from out of town. Also, it is BEAUTIFUL up there. Nothing but farmland and mountains as far as the eye can see. I loved taking Daisy for walks in the morning. The cabin is in the perfect place to sit out on the deck and watch the rodeo fireworks. So, even on the nights we don't go, we still get a great show.

We went up the weekend before to get everything ready. The Moose got an Uncle Sam hat and the boys put a new flag on the barn.

The day before the 4th, my mom, Allison, Joey and I went shopping for food and to Midway (there is a cute store there called "The Barn") and the boys went hiking at Mirror Lake. The climbed Mt. Baldy--at least until the snow was too deep.
James of course caught something disgusting. I think this is a salamander.
Daisy and Charlie hit it off. It was love at first sight. I am so glad because she could have eaten him in one bite! But they played together and explored and we laughed at this odd couple. Charlie is pretty smitten with her. At the parade, he picked up a piece of candy in his mouth and brought it over to her.
Then we got ready for the rodeo. Before we go to the rodeo, we always have a BBQ. My dad made turkey tenders and my mom made her famous "Cowboy beans." MMM...
It was a little windy, so we ate inside. Here are the little kids at the picnic table.We all dress like cowboys for the rodeo. Except for Frank. He is like Billy Crystal in "City Slickers." He will only wear a baseball cap.
The boys had a coke on the porch while we finished getting ready and we were off!

The rodeo is always so fun. If you want to know who the most patriotic people in America are, I'd go with the rodeo organizers. We have the National Anthem, and flag-carrying cowgirls riding their horses in formation. I can't believe the colors of Wranglers these girls wear. After all the 4th of July hoopla, we settled down for a great rodeo. We cheered, we boo-ed and we ate tons of caramel popcorn and licorice (thanks, Allison!)

I still get butterflies in my stomach every time a cowboy gets on one of those bulls. I mean, seriously, what are they thinking? Allison took this picture of a guy getting bucked off of a bronco.

You may have to click on it to enlarge it. It was unbelievable!

On the 4th, we wake up every year to what, until recently, we believed to be a cannon being shot at about 6 in the morning. But, we have since found out that it is dynamite blown by one of the Oakley locals.

I can't say it too often. If you have never been to the 4th of July in a small town, you need to make some plans for next summer. The parade is so much fun. Most of the "floats" are just a pick-up truck decorated with flags driven by a grandpa who loads a bunch of kids and sometimes livestock into the back.

And of course, the rodeo queens in their various colors of jeans and boots.

We had a homerun derby in the backyard after the parade.

And then cooled off with some watermelon.What a full weekend! But we're not done! Jeff and Ginger Reed had a BBQ in their backyard. We are so lucky to get invited. I can't believe they'll still have us back every year.

Jeff makes delicious burgers, hot dogs and brats. We all have a great time eating and laughing.

Then, Jeff gets out the fireworks. Before it gets dark, he shoots off the parachute guys. This is the kids' favorite. They all chase the little parachute as it comes down. The big kids are great about letting all the little kids get one. In this picture, you can see Trent running up to push some of the kids out of the way to snag one. Just kidding, Trent. He's probably watching for cars because for some reason, those little parachute guys always like to land in the street and it's hard to watch for cars while you are looking up.Victory! Yeah, Andrew!

By the time it's dark, we pretty much light the neighborhood on fire with sparklers and other fireworks. Look at the smoke! What a great time!We finished off the night by sitting on the lawn and watching the Lagoon fireworks in the South and the Kaysville City fireworks in the East.

What a great weekend!