Vacation…

 For the end of Rick’s vacation week we took off for the beach.  The lot we usually leave our trailer at was being bulldozed so we weren’t too sure how things were going to play out.  Turned out we were able to park the trailer on not have to move it again!  So on Friday we watched the huge power shovel flatten out the dirt and pick tree stumps out of the rubble.  In the picture above he is moving the fire pit ring!  I never knew what a skill it is to use one of those things!

The kids were getting restless so Aunt Cheryl and I took them down to the lake to try out some fishing.  They caught a lot – of weeds!  It was nice to get out for a bit though.  On our way there we passed “Rocky” isn’t that what all male raccoons are named?  I just think they are such beautiful little critters! 

On Saturday we spent some time down on the beach.  It was a beautiful day (for the WA/OR coast that is).  Any time you can be barefoot on the beach here is considered beautiful – even if you are wearing a winter coat in July!  The kids dug in the sand for a bit then the boys went out to play in the water (once you are numb it no longer feels cold) while Rick fished a little.

For the fourth of July we went to a genuine small town parade.  We nearly got soaked by the heavy mist while we waited for it to start but the minute it started the water stopped!  The highlight was the little local grocery store’s shopping cart drill team – what a hoot!

For the afternoon we just chilled out for a while before heading over to some friends for dinner and fireworks.  Paige watched her favorite “big girls” play games in our trailer for a while before crashing for a little nap.

The fireworks were a hit as usual.  Not quite the same adventure as last year because we didn’t actually go down on the beach.  It was too windy and cold so we opted to stay and do them in the yard.  Rick got a nasty burn when Trace unintentionally thrust a lit smoke bomb into his hand.  The “grand finale” was truly a GRAND finale as the mortar was apparently loaded upside down!  We were all scared to death and nearly deafened when the darned thing exploded in the yard rather than in the sky!  The kids couldn’t stop talking about that little bit of excitement!  All in all, another fun and memorable Fourth of July!