The Great Foray into the Pacific Northwest...part 3

Day 2...

Refreshed from the previous day's activities, I prepared for an all day event - the 4th of July!! First on the agenda was the church picnic. We packed the car and hit the road...Needless to say, I've never attended a picnic quite like this. I've attended church picnics, but this was by far, the best one I've ever gone too. (Can I come back next year, Sarah?!?)



We started the agenda off with prayer, some singing, a speaker, and then another song...Let me tell you, it's cool being at a park and hearing a group of a hundred or more people singing patriotic songs acappella.


The fun began pretty quick...there was loads of yummy food...After chowing down, I pulled the camera out and began snapping pictures...all the guys were throwing frisbees, and probably trying to impress some girls...

Socializing was in full swing. It is so much fun to take pictures of people, especially when they're not aware that you are taking their picture. The day was absolutely perfect for a picnic, and especially a picnic to celebrate the freedoms that we all enjoy on a daily basis.

     Happy 4^th

        of July!

JJ was ready to rumble in his 4^th of July outfit…he was easily the cutest child at the picnic…until I met a few of the little girls…ok, so he was the cutest little boy there…how’s that? I’m being fair, right?  His wide toothed grin while he got to sit in the swing was something to remember forever…his innocent giggles and excited expression are memories I treasure…The best part of playing with kids is their reactions to things. I cracked up when I was going down the slide at the playground with JJ, and he decided he was going to climb back up the slide so he could go down again...and he pushed my hands away so he could slide by himself...he didn't need his Auntie Ruth helping him. He was big enough to slide by himself. Just wait a few more years, mommy...it won't be so cute then.

 Next was the hunt for the candy in the hay...JJ still hasn't quite made the connection between the wrapper and the fact that something sweet is inside...I'm sure it won't be long though. He found quite a few pieces...with a little help from Mom...



While sitting and chatting with some of Sarah and Jonathan's friends, I noticed this adorable little girl...this one is going to be a heartbreaker. Her infectious grin had me smiling from ear to ear too!

And here's a picnic favorite, the pastor and his daughter, perched on his shoulder...

Next on the agenda were the games…tug of war, the egg toss and the water balloon toss…Sarah and I were disappointed there was no three-legged race…but then again, we wouldn’t have had any competition anyways…Once again, I stood on the sidelines and took lots of pictures, although, I did join in for one of the tug of war matches…no pictures were managed to be gotten of that…and it was epic. My side won – naturally.

JJ was ready when it came time for the balloon toss…it was so cute to see his little hands stretched out trying to reach for that balloon. Needless to say, the balloon didn’t last long. The best part was afterwards, Sarah handed JJ a balloon while Jonathan had him on his shoulders…Jonathan was braced for the inevitable, but ended up with a burst balloon at his feet and not on top of his head…all caught on the camera – see for yourself…

Disaster averted, we all packed up and went home for a much needed nap. Poor JJ had gotten a little too much sun and was a little pink. I had fallen asleep on the grass for about half an hour...the little sun I got was gone by morning...Thank heavens for a good tan!!

After our nap, we packed up again, and hit the road...again! This time, we headed for Washington state - it was time to shoot some fireworks!! YAY!! I got some magnificent photos of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood while on our way...

We ended out the day with the fireworks booming in our ears...I think I got a small glimpse of what it must have been like in the war for Independence...the booms never stopped for a full 5 seconds together...it literally sounded like we were being bombarded...

It was one of the best 4th of July's I have ever had!!!