Summer Vacay Part III

So... I realize that this is the most drawn out post about a summer vacation that ever was, but I can't just NOT talk about the rest of the time on the farm.  So, picking up where I left off...

The day after the big treasure hunt was the 4th of July!  As with every other year, our celebration starts with attempting to get a picture of all 4 kids dressed up in their 4th of July outfits.  And, as with every other year, it never really works out...

Then, it was off to the 4th of July parade!  Fortunately, it was not over 100 degrees like it was last year.  This year, I believe it was only 90?  Needless to say, a bit toasty, but that didn't stop everyone from having fun.

The kids loved feeding the animals...

And each other..

And, of course, there were the pony rides...

And, the actual parade.  SO disappointed.  This year?  No foreign exchange student.  I mean, I personally think that the fact that they get to be on display in the Green Lake 4th of July Parade would be reason enough to want to study abroad there, but apparently no one agreed this year...

 I thought this was a good shot of the Grandparents AND it was Jane's first ever 4th of July celebration, so she HAD to have a picture on the blog!  Not that it wasn't a memorable experience on its own, of course.  But, this will just help her remember EVERY detail - if she wants to or not!  :)

And, then came the best part of the day...the concert by the lake.  This is the thing that keeps getting better every year as the kids get older.  Our first concert started with us sitting by the lake, having one beer and attempting to inhale some fried cheese curds before the babies started to cry and before the music got too loud for their little ears.  Now?  We still sit by the lake, but we now allow our kids to listen to the loud music that is probably still hurting their little ears (but it's just one night, right?), we still drink beer, but the quantity has increased substantially, and we still eat fried cheese curds, but at a much more leisurely pace and now?  We've added funnel cakes to the mix!!!  What could be better than experiencing total gut rot while listening to music by the lake on a gorgeous night??

And, then we have the annual picture by the tree with all of the kids in their 4th of July outfits, which also never happens to turn out - even after taking 50 pictures within a 1 min. time span.  I'm including 3 of them because I think that it is really comical that someone is clearly trying to make the kids laugh and as you can see through the progression of the pictures, it is working...for the girls.  Al Man?  In his own little world with that ridiculous "Cheese!!!!" look on his face. 

 

And, then there were the frisbee throwing lessons using the frisbees that were thrown at the crowd during the parade (I guess they figure if they are going to disappoint us with no foreign exchange student, they will make up for it by throwing out legit prizes?).  I have to say, Al Man may have redeemed the cheesy "Cheese!!!" look with his frisbee throwing skills. 

 

and, I have to admit -he looks pretty cute in this picture with Opa.

Later that night, Opa shot off fireworks at home and we let Avery stay up to watch them. She was surprisingly very good and wasn't afraid - even though these fireworks were pretty freaking large, high and loud.  Impressive to say the least.  However, I think that the highlight of the evening may have been late night when Lexi, Will, Dad and I played our first ever game of pool as teams.  Dad and I were on a team and let's just say, the wine was flowing.  I do believe I now hold the record for number of times one can aim at the cue ball and just blatantly miss it by shooting the pool stick a good 2-3 inches above it.  I think it may have happened 3, maybe 4 times.  In a row -  the last one resulting in me laughing so hard, I ended up on the floor.  Fun times, my friends.  Fun times. 

And, here I am - yet again, another post on WI and yet, I'm still not done.  Next one will be the final one and will be very little narrative - I swear.