4th Of July Celebration (sorry so late!)

OK So sometimes life just gets hectic. Can I blame it on that? OK good. Sorry to keep you all in GREAT SUSPENSE here..... ha ha ! So here it is, the big report of our 4th Of July activities in our home.

Mon night SIL and family traveled across state to arrive here for the 4th Of July celebration. At 2:15 am in the morning they pulled in! Eeeck! We got them all in, settled and asleep by 3:00am all was good. Wake up time: 7:00am! OH MY! Get up, get going, feed the kids, and prepped my daughter and neice for the Cheer Squad Float they were to be on (click to see photo)
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3445.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch15
So, we get the two dancing queens off to thier float and then pack up and head down to our premarked spot on the parade route. 8:30 am and it is already HOT HOT HOT outside... we were packin' lawn chairs, coolers, the whole bit! Get in and get settled and the parade starts, I LOVE my hometown parade, it is fun and homey and just very nostalgic for me. My old High School was a highlight amongst other things. (click to see photos)
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3450.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch6 Color Guard

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3463.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch4 Daughters Cheer Team

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3453.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch14 My previous employer float (and sponsor of the parade and fireworks)

The parade was fantastic, lots of music, candy thrown and so on... but the heat was killing us (90 degrees in straight sun) so we headed home soon after and then the IRON CHEF COOKOFF began. SIL and my DH had a cookoff witht the main ingredient being PINEAPPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(click for photos)
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3500.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch12 ( chicken/veggie kabobs)

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3484.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch3 (pineapple salad)

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3505.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1 (the judges taste testing)

The Iron Chef was delicious and SIL won over my hubby by just 1.6 points!! We had quite the feast and guess WHO did the kitchen detail after?? Enuf said there.

So that evening with full bellies and temperatures cooled down, we headed off to the fireworks show. The Melaleuca Freedom Celebration is the BIGGEST and FINEST fireworks show this side of the Mississippi and it is just one of Idaho's great claims to fame. It is about 30-40 minutes of FANTASTIC FIREWORKS set to a beautfiul program of music and commentary. Very emotional and patriotic....love it. (more photos, click here:)
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3521.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch9 (my boys watching)

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=100_3519.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch10 (blurry but there!)

So, after a very long, very HOT and fun day, we all got home and retired to our beds, floors, couches and wherever else we could crash. MUCH fun had by all and a great set of memories!

HAPPY INDEPENENCE DAY TO YOU ALL!!!!! (belated!)