The 4th

Celebrating the 4th was super fun.

We had a weekend of swimming, checking out the new Cars movie (actually took both kids with us!), and lots of time outside. Mike was able to enjoy some good bike rides. He's loved getting back in the saddle more regularly, actually riding some longer miles, and has loved the road biking routes! I love that he comes back with new places that we need to go check out with the kids, and that he basically has the bulk of these rural roads along Eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin mapped out in his head.

Started out the morning of the 4th with a red, white and blue breakfast!

We headed over to a true small town parade in Afton. Contemplated riding our bikes there (with kids in the bike trailer), but Mike had been out on his ride earlier, and it was actually a pretty hot day so we decided against it. A good thing as there were WAY more people than we would have ever anticipated. We did get there early enough to snag some shade. Not early enough for a first or second seated row, but a perfect spot for people watching prior to the parade start. (Thanks KJ for the shirts! The kids loved them!)

The actual parade was SMALL - no dazzling, big floats or wild entertainment. And super old school - passing out flags, candy and ice pops. It runs on the biggest street in town, but since the town is so small, they actually turn around at the end of the parade route and head back on the other side of the road. If you missed something the first time, you could catch it on the second round. Like the old fire trucks, Port-a-pottys, or pig in the trailer. Loved every minute.

Prior to the 4th, we checked out a few different places that were doing large firework shows. Had intentions to head over to one of them, but, actually stayed at home and watch the neighborhood shows instead.

Wisconsin is to Minnesota as Wyoming is to Utah. The biggest difference is there are no fire-hazard areas and no worries that fields will go up in flames, so there are no "restrictions" when it comes to the actual lighting of illegal fireworks - you just can't buy them here. Never in my life have I seen such large firework shows coming from homes. For three nights straight, we watched shows from our house that reminded me of the Eaglewood firework show when I was in high school (you know, one big firework at a time, with a relatively big finale at the end). We heard some of the "home spun" shows were a collaborative event among many people and were in the price range as high as $2,000 big ones. I don't know that we'll ever see anything quite like it anywhere else.

We got together with our neighbors on the eve of the 4th, and lit off some of the small street fireworks. The kids had such a blast and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

And, then I was tuckered out. Couldn't last that third night late watching fireworks. I even told Mike I felt like we were living in the middle of a war zone as I was trying to go to bed.

Funny enough, a bunch of my neighbors were still awake. The Scouts in our ward started the flag fundraiser a couple holidays ago. They broke out geographically where they deliver and pick up the American Flag on the holiday. They were running a bit late the night of the 4th, and didn't come by to the house until after we'd checked out. Our neighbors saw a SUV of teenage boys stop at our house, take our flag and leave. Not knowing what was happening, and not knowing that this was an organized fundraiser, they called the cops to report the theft. Super grateful that we have awesome neighbors who are so watchful, but it did cause a bit of a mix up, needing some explanation the next day...