A Fourth Full of Fun

We started out our 4th of July at the Lion's Club pancake breakfast down at Drake Park
MMMMMmmmmm

Then we went up the block to line up to be in the "Pet Parade"
As you can see half the town was in the parade and the other half were watching it.

Very cool!

We walked in the "Odds and Ends" category with our friends who were walking with family who had a "pet" horse
Here's the "Star"

After the parade we went back down to Drake Park for the festivities. There were a lot of booths, games and entertainment.

Brad, Abby, Ethan and I tried our hand at the Fish Fling. You put rubber fish, ducks or balls in the bungee and tried to get it into the rings out in the river.

Ethan's first shot:

Watching Ethan's second shot and....

of course it went in!! He's a winner!!

Then it was Abby's turn

Neither Brad or I won, but here are the kids with the water bottles they won!!

Around 2pm as we were leaving this huge crowd of bikes came down the road. The throng continued to ride en mass for almost 5 minutes. I am sure there were hundreds of bikes. Brad said "We are SO doing that next year!"

After the festivities at Drake Park we decided to go out to Sisters to the "Gem Round-Up."

There were about 3 rows of tents like this all selling gems in various states of refinement.

Ethan and Abby checking out some of the gems.

There was some pretty cool stuff! I have to admit I was a little partial to the petrified wood. We also found out the Oregon state gem is the "Sunstone"

For supper on the way home from Sisters we stopped at the Tumalo Feed Company and got stuffed. My steak was awesome!

Then to wrap up the night we watched the 20 minute firework show that was set off from the Butte in the middle of town. Ok, that isn't us sitting there, but I thought it was such a cool pic. With the flares all around the top with the fireworks coming out made it look like a live volcano!! Very cool!

I'll leave you with one of my favorite songs. I can't sing it without coming to tears.

I couldn't find a version on Youtube with all the verses, but here they are.

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stressA thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self their country lovedAnd mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!