Hurrah for the Red White and Blue!

Cal and Sam were so looking forward to the Fourth of July because that was the day they got to ride in the Eden Children's Bike Parade (I don't even know if that should technically be capitalized since it's really such a low-key sort of thing...).  They were begging to decorate their bikes all week leading up to the parade, and we finally did it on Monday.  Flags, streamers, and even some hand-drawn-and-taped-on decor turned their every day rides into something magical.  They were up early (as usual), so we got to the park shortly after they started serving breakfast.  Then we waited for Grandpa and Grandma Elwood to show up (they came over the hills and through the canyons just to see the kids ride), waited while they ate their breakfast, and waited for our friend Charlie to arrive for the parade.  Finally it was time!  The kids met to start at the power substation one block east of the park.  They rode the three sides of that block and ended up back at the park.  And Cal even spotted some candy that had been tossed in the road (to nobody, because nobody watches this parade until the last few hundred feet where all the parents are clumped) to snatch up into her basket.  Win-win!

Oh my heavens, these are some cute kids!

Yum!

Ready to ride!

They're off!

Around the first curve.

Into the home stretch!  She loved it!

After the parade we came home and lounged and visited and played for a bit before Grandpa and Grandma headed back to the Valley of Cache for another parade with another grandkid.  And we just hung out.  Sam was in dire need of a hair cut, so we took care of that.  And since Sam was getting one, Cal begged for one, too.  Why not?

What a cute face with shaggy hair!
(Side note: this size kids XL pokemon shirt
was our "major award" from the Bluesox baseball
game we attended in Smithfield the Saturday before.
While we were there, I wanted a new t-shirt, and got
convinced to buy some raffle tickets while I was at it.
We had to leave before the drawing, but my parents
stayed to claim our prize and brought it down when
they came for the parade.)

Best haircut experience yet for this kid!

Cal's turn!

Then we threw the kids in the pool to cool off.  We cooled off a bit, too, when they started a water fight with us!

That face means mischief!

We finished the day with a yummy grilled chicken dinner and then put the kids to bed.  Gregg woke Callie up a few minutes before ten and put her in the car so they could go out and find a high spot to watch the Liberty fireworks.  Only problem with that was Cal couldn't keep her eyes open, and didn't even last till the real* fireworks started.  (*she did see a few aerials that were being shot off in neighborhoods around the valley).  When Gregg got home and Cal was back in bed, we watched the show from the front deck and bedroom window instead.  :D