Fourth Of July

What a crazy July we are going to have this year. We kicked off the 4th by going to the parade in Oakley. The boys were a little bummed about not riding on the float, but then when we reminded them about being able to get all the candy that's thrown out, they were happy. When the parade started one of the cowgirl's horses started prancing around and then just reared up and fell over dead. It stopped the parade for a bit, but then in true farm town fashion, they just found the nearest tractor and pushed the horse into a ravine until the parade was over.

I had promised Mckaye and Brooklyn that we would go and watch the patriotic program, so after the parade, we maneuvered down to the Cattlemans Hall for the show. Most of the program was good. I get pretty emotional thinking about my gramps in the war. I don't remember many of the details that he told, of being in the war, because he didn't talk very openly about it, but I will never forget the strong emotions it brought out in him, when he did talk about it.

We hit the little kids parade in the afternoon and watched all the visitors get indignant when their babies were bucked off sheep or stampeded by the calf with money taped to it. I swear, they think because they are in the country on vacation it is safe. It is called mutton busting, not petting zoo. What Ev.

The rodeo was great. We sat in the front row and Emma was happy, because she could run around, and we had plenty of licorice for her to eat, sometimes 5 pieces to each hand. Dylan dressed like a real cowboy, complete with hat and chaps and belt buckle. He was so funny. The second he was dressed, his drawl became far more exagerated and he had quite the swagger. I think he enjoyed the rodeo the most. He was laughing so hard at all the jokes the clown was saying. Dawson liked the rodeo, especially because he sat between Mckaye and Brooklyn. "Girl Trapped" as he likes to call it.

We stuck around for the fireworks and then scooted home to bed. Everyone slept well.