**Stars And Stripes**

The 4th of July was GREAT!

In downtown Weiser, we had an old-fashioned 4th of July. It was so much fun. It started out with a parade for the veterans and military. (Which I missed because I was finishing my 4th of July cake with blueberries as stars and strawberries as stripes to make the american flag).

After the parade there was a fly-over down state street followed by a free BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and watermelon. The line was endless for the BBQ. It wrapped around Ridleys parking lot. Lyndon and I decided not to eat at the BBQ, so we went into the store and bought a foot long turkey sandwich to share and some sodas.

There was also a bicycle decorating contest down state street. I think there were lots of kids who entered. The celebration ended with a kids hose competition and a firemans challenge. The Weiser Rural Fire Department set this up and they had over 70 kids enter. It was a total success. I think they are going to do this every year.

After the hose competition, we went to my parents house for a BBQ. Lyndon was called out to a car accident fire (with a few other men who were suppose to be BBQ'ing also) so we had to wait to eat. The kids blew bubbles, ran through the sprinkler, went swimming in the pool, and lit off fireworks.

After dinner, we went up to the golf course to watch fireworks. We sat on the fairway and watched. Emma fell asleep on my lap during the production. Who would have thought you could fall asleep with all the loud "Boom"s....

Here are some pictures from the day....


This is Hayden at the BBQ. Instead of eating her lunch, she stole someones chocolate from the table and munched it down.



Emma was happy and content sitting and eating ice....



Hayden and Alexie on the stairs. This was part of the firemans challenge.



Johnny was competing in the kids hose competition for ages 5 through 8. He was preparing himself about 20 minutes before the competition started.



Alexie and Emma were trying to get the best seats in the place. They got too hot and bored and left the spot before the competition started.



Some of the kids who competed in the hose competition.



Old-Fashioned Fourth of July.... Or just a typical small-town fourth of july.



Johnny, Hannah, and Alexie getting ready to compete. Hannah and Alexie are only 4 but since their family is on the fire department, they were able to compete.



Johnny competing during his round. He won his round of competition. Got 3rd place overall in his division.



Johnny after winning his round.



Lyndon was a helper during the kids competition. Here he is helping one of the competitors.




Emma found Grandma Kay and Kem.



This is what the kids were spraying at. They had to shoot the water into the top hole and a ping-pong ball would shoot out the bottom hole. When the ball came out they were done.



Lyndon competed in the firemans challenge. His partner was Joe Wrenfroe. They were the first ones to go.... and (Sorry Lyndon... I'm telling...) They got last place. I believe both of them just got off their rookie... So, we will give them that.... But they also messed up a few times and had a 15 second penalty.



Joe hammering....



Running the stairs. They had to touch every step.



Lyndon climbing through the barrel.



Carrying hose across a ladder. This is where they got some penalties. They stepped off the ladder twice.



Jumping the wall....


They had to jump into a tank of water, pull out turn-outs and a helmet and put them on....





They then had to put a nozzel on a hose and spray a target.





The trophy for winning the hose competition... So manly.... :):)



The winners of the kids hose competition.....


1st Place- Ages 5-8



2nd Place- Ages 5-8



1st Place- Ages 9-12



2nd Place- Ages 9-12



1st Place- Ages 13-17
(Her partner left before we could get the picture)



The winners of the firemans challenge...
Nyssa Fire Department


Everyone together.....