Renee is here and July 4th Celebrating!

The kids arrived on the 3rd!  After getting up at 3 am to drive to New Orleans to fly to Fargo ND, they were pretty tired. Picture of  Renee, just after they got off the plane.  The pilot gave Renee her "Wings".  She was pretty proud!  For a two year old she traveled just fine.  Our other granddaughter, Amanda, flew home with them.   She was glad to get home after her 2 week vacation in Louisiana.  Renee sure likes her cousin "Manda".  After getting to our house, we celebrated Renee's 2nd birthday (was the day before July 2nd) and watched her open up gifts.  It's so fun to have a little one around!

Then yesterday for the 4th we had another busy day.  In the morning, we rode with the neighbor Dave on his pontoon in the Straight Lake Boat Parade.  Another neighbor Paul, just his double barrel shotgun, shooting into the air to start the parade.  Another fellow in the next pontoon, played his trumpet and off we went.  The ride was very relaxing. 

We heard some stories when Jessica started telling how she and Jenny (Connie and Gene's daughter) would  swim, paddle boat, canoe, etc. on the lake.  She hadn't been on Straight Lake for 10 years!

The morning was sunny and no wind.  Just perfect.  I thought it was getting rather warm, but Jessica and Floyd thought it was great.  They're used to hot, humid Louisiana weather, so our 80+ degrees didn't bother them a bit.  After the boat parade, both Jessica and Renee rested under the tree in our front yard, while Floyd helped Steve grind feed.

In the afternoon, we headed to town for the parade and fireworks.  To get the place we like to sit, we usually get there an hour before it starts.  Spread out our blanket, chairs, goodies and sit to wait for everything to start.  Visited with childhood neighborhood friends, Joan (now lives in Wisconsin) and Nancy (lives in Crookston, MN) and their cousin from California.  Got updated on all their family goings on, and found out that Nancy READS my blog.  Couldn't believe it!  Now when you read this Nancy, be sure to go to the comment section and sign in as "Anonymous", write me a note, and just put Nancy F and I'll then know you've been here. 

I even go to the river - the old beach area, and leave a blanket where we like to sit.  A lot of people do that to reserve a chosen spot for the evening festivities.  After the parade we get pizza to go, eat and visit with friends.  Jessica and Renee went walking around and visited with old high school friends and found some teachers she hadn't seen in years.  Leah, Steve, Amanda and TJ, and later Blake and Dena; also my sister Georgia and Vern were all there.  This year other daughter Steph and Cullen didn't make it home.  We missed you Steph.  So we were still quite a big group.  After the Community Band played, neighbors Barb and Roger sat with us too. 

The weather started to  let us know we had a storm coming.  Lightning in the distance and clouds building up, so the fire works started a little earlier than normal, but that was fine.  We even had some lightning action in with the fire works photo shots, plus we made it home just as it was starting to sprinkle.  The thunder and lightning show on the way home was quite impressive.  Guess God wanted to show us what a real lightning show was all about!   We got just over an inch of rain, and did have some wind too.  The swing was blown over and the dog dish off the steps.  I'm glad I stacked the patio chairs, or they would have been blown off the deck too.

Floyd forgot to bring a hat from home with him (for his bald head), so he wore my garden sun hat all day!!! Doesn't he look dapper?!?!?    So funny!  I asked him if he'd been at home, would he wear my hat, and he said a big "NO"!  Guess he didn't care here, because not too many people know him!

Nothing prettier than fireworks over water.  I love the reflection in the water and  how everything takes on the color of the  fireworks!

Lightning filled the skyline too! 

Lightning lit up the sky and fireworks.  It wasn't striking lightning, it was different, lighting up the whole sky, filtering through the clouds.   Later, on the way home, we saw some striking lightning.  

I took a LOT of photos, and filled up my SD card before the finale!  Next year I'll have to be more selective, so I have room for the last fireworks.  Our town of Park Rapids puts on the best show I've seen, and it is all paid for by donations.  I am glad to donate, as I don't have to worry about anyone getting hurt.  Leave it to the professionals.  Years ago I worked in  hospital admissions, and saw some horrible accidents come in from kids to adults that got hurt badly from accidents and carelessness in handling fireworks.  Decided then, it wasn't something I didn't want to see happen to any of my family members.

I hope you all had a safe 4th of July!