Happy 4th of July!

The 4th of July is my family's favorite holiday! What's there not to love? It's all about parades, BBQ's, swimming, boating, fireworks! Even I get excited about all the festivities. Every year, my family participates in our town's 4th of July Parade. It's the type of parade you'd expect in a small town--one that hasn't changed in the last 50 years. I actually really like that small town feeling--where everyone knows everyone. And everyone definitely knows my Dad...Oregon's State Representative. He's known as a conservative mover and shaker, who gets the job done! He's constantly on T.V. and the radio. So every year, my Dad likes to round up his numerous posterity (anyone who happens to be in town visiting) and puts us in the parade, representing the Richardson family. We all wear matching t-shirts with "Dennis Richardson...State Reprentative" silk screened on the front, and our job is to hand out bags of candy to the crowd as we drag wagons of children behind. This year we all got to sit lazily in a trailer waving our American flags. It's always fun for the kids to be in a parade...no matter how sweltering the heat always seems to be 4th of July weekend!

After the Parade, we head to the Lake to meet up with family and friends to swim and BBQ. Always such fun! Then, as dusk begins to fall, we leave the lake and head to the Twin Creeks neighborhood for the much anticipated firework show!

For weeks, my husband Matt and his three boys plan out the big show! It has become quite the neighborhood event. This year, Matt decided to go "legal" and get all the proper permits and certifications to put on a 'guilt-free' firework show for hundreds of family and friends. It is quite the extravaganza! First, there was the pre-show where each of my sons lit off their fireworks (they bought with their own allowance money!) that they had nailed, stapled, and glued to a piece of wood in a long line connected by a fuse. When that ended...the big show began. It was pretty incredible watching the sky explode with festive colors! What a perfect way to celebrate our country's Indepence Day.