July 4, 2019 times two

It rained or snowed most of the month of May, and drowned my dahlia tubers (planted May 13), thus giving them a late start. It rained practically the entire time we were gone in Mexico the first two weeks of June. It did not stop raining in July either. Here we are heading out the ranch for the 4th of July.

It was *pouring.* The radar often looked like this during the "summer" of 2019.

Low clouds and rain on the interstate heading north.

Puddles and running water everywhere at the ranch. 

The kids all played on the Nintendo Switch while we waited out the rain.

It did eventually quit long enough for the sun to come out and for us to take some updated family pictures.

Just us. 

Just funny us.

Of course we had to wrangle some chickens while we were out.

Expert chicken wranglers.

A couple of cute little boys.

I mentioned in my Badlands hike post how there was clover absolutely everywhere. This picture shows what it was like.

We did manage to shoot off a few fireworks before it started raining again. 

The chicken laying a balloon egg was a bit lame to watch but it was still funny. 

It poured again on the way home.

The rain and video of the littles' favorite firecracker, the parachute guys. They both shot into the field because on the wind and Terry went out there (in the extreme mud) to fetch them.

Three days later on the July 7th, we went out for round two. We had bought all the fireworks in a soggy tent while it poured and by golly, we were going to use them. After we held some chickens that is. 

My favorite tree in the fading light.

Just about time to start.

Time!

Though we set off some parachute guys already before I guess we had more. 

Noah

Evie

Samuel

Ezra

Daddy helped all the kids except Noah. I was the photographer.

Chilling with Gramma.

Getting darker. 

That's the good stuff. 

I had so much video but shaved it down to these three videos.

July 4 2013

This year's Independence Day was pretty laid back for us. Nothing like fishing like last year or going out to friends in Gburg. We just stayed home, except for Terry who helped his dad rake some hay. But we do have a little newborn! Okay, so he was nearly five weeks old, but the excuse still applies I think.

Here's duckface girl and dreamy boy with sleepy-and-still-a-little-orange Ezra. Pretty sure we were waiting for daddy to get home.

Terry brought home the few fireworks that were allowed in the city. Here's a smoke bomb. Stinky.

We were encouraging Evie to light one herself but she was too afraid. It was quite silly. So I had to help her.

And these two are just too cute.

Pretty girl. This is a good shot of her new haircut too! Her hair is so fine that it tangles very fast and the tears when it was time to brush her hair were getting annoying. So we chopped it.

Pure concentration.

Evie got over her fright with the noise maker popper things and had a good time.

the 4th

Sometimes we're not the best planners. Well, maybe most times.

We almost decided to go and visit my brother over the fourth of July holiday but decided against it because we didn't plan enough in advance. Yeah. So the night before the 4th we decided we'd like to go fishing. Terry's dad came along and we went to Terry's childhood lake in the hills and tried our luck.

If you'll notice, Evie is wearing no shoes. It's not because she prefers the feel of grass on her feet, it's because she forgot her shoes at home. I had enough to worry about packing without having to remember her shoes. So she went without and did pretty good, aside from us having to carry her over the hot concrete and some of the rougher gravel.

Samuel did not do so hot. He's got a temper issue. Temper tantrum? Rage? Toddlerhood? I don't know. After this day I decided that more severe and consistent discipline was in order. His tantrums began when I took some raw corn away from him and he just would not stop screaming. Doesn't he look happy? Some Coke did help... It always helps Daddy as well.

Looks so idyllic doesn't it? It was, overall, pretty enjoyable. Though next time, Samuel is not coming.

We only caught two fish. This is the first - a suckerfish of some kind.

Here's the only keeper, a Rainbow Trout. Both fish were caught with Evie's pole with worms. No one else at the lake caught anything while we were there so that made us feel better. We joked that this fish was committing suicide because he was so lonely. Or that he was a scout to see what the heck the racket was about. We actually ate this fish that night at my folks. It was delish! It was a good lesson for our kids about where food comes from - "That's the fish that was swimming in the lake?!"

After a couple hours of continued whining to go over to the beach, we caved. Grampa stayed behind to continue fishing without any luck.

Samuel's mood did get a little better when there was more to do.

The kids quite enjoyed the dirty water and beach. I, however, did not venture in. I left that to Terry.

Noah and Evie enjoyed splashing each other and running in and out of the water.

Noah is apologizing to Samuel after splashing him. The poor little guy was asleep moments after getting strapped into his car seat. He was so tired.

Spunky little girl squirrel.

fireworks

July 3 evening we went to some friend's to hang out, have dinner, whoop up playing Kan Jam and set off fireworks. It's crazy down here with the fireworks. Annoying really. I just don't get it. But we are getting more and more fireworks every year for the kids. Their favorite is the parachute guys. Evie's shot over the road and Daddy had to fetch it from the corn field. Noah ran after and fell in the mud.

Daddy is smiling about what Noah told him after Terry told him that he should come and show me how muddy he was. Noah told him, "NO! She can't see me like this!" Hilarious. He didn't want me to laugh at him.

They like the tanks too.

Brent and Pastor Rick working the snakes. Boys will always be boys - it's not the kids playing with them ;)

Observing the fireworks from a safe distance. If there is such a thing.

When we got home at 10, Terry let the kids stay up even later - til 11 - to shoot off even more fireworks. They stayed up late the following night as well. Ug. They didn't even want to finish watching the fireworks on the 4th. They wanted to go to bed. So did I!