The 4th of July: Part One

Our neighborhood puts on a 4th of July parade every year.  It starts in our commercial center, wraps around the major roadway in the 'hood and ends at the country club, where the kids are given sno-cones and bounce houses to tire them out.  We've enjoyed the parade while living here, but this year was a little different.  Stephen and Knox were in it.

Let me backtrack a bit.  Stephen joined the Canyon Creek Crushers softball team this past year.  Many of our favorite neighborhood husbands also play, so it's been a fun mid-week 'man time' for him.  This past season they won the "national" league championship.  They were so excited, and are still kind of on a softball high.  

Last night they had one of their last games before the playoffs.  They played the team they beat in the championship last season, and won.  This spawned an idea.  The parade was the next day...why not have a Crushers float.  This meant that I was awake early yesterday morning making banners while Stephen bought candy...but it was so fun.

Their team sponsor is Brunelli/Fluellen Dentistry.  Nick Fluellen plays on the team, and his wife was kind enough to not only sponsor their new jerseys, but they borrowed her giant tooth as well :)  Too funny.

  

The kids got to ride in the truck...they were in heaven!

Softball Wives

The Whites came out to join the fun.  Madison loved grabbing candy and beads from the floats!

The dudes en route

Our neighborhood has a band, "The Grateful Dads."  They played great songs the entire parade, and for the after party!

My favorite.  How clever?  The kids in front had a baby pool to wet the sponges.  The kids watching the parade got to run up and take a shot...loved it!

And how cute is this?  There was a big and little Elvis, and a group of parents playing poker on the back.  Too cute!

The champs!

"Cheese."

Our family

Madison loved the bounce houses

Claire and Knox loved the popsicles.  It was balmy.

On the way home, Knox kept covering his eyes from the sun.

And Claire just gave up. 

We had so much fun.  We decided to head to the pool before naptime, and he wore himself out.  We had a great first half of the day, and looked forward to Brian's for some smoked brisket and pork shoulder to end the day!