4th of July

I was so excited to go to Benson this year for the 4th because it's a small town and everything is different in a small town. We left Thursday night and were supposed to meet up with Josh and Trish in Tucson for dinner but they weren't able to make it so we went anyway! We stopped in Marana and ate at Texas Roadhouse and then kept going! We stayed up late talking with everyone and having fun, like always. Everyone was there except for Amy. Friday morning Steven and I got up and went running and the weather was gorgeous. It was so much cooler than Mesa but about 50 times more humid. So, really, the weather wasn't all that nice. I definitely prefer the "dry heat". Anyway, we went to the parade which, like every year, just consisted of a bunch of tractors, about 300 jeeps and people running for city positions. It's fun just to be there. After the parade we went and got slurpies (sp?) and went to the park where they have lots of little booths with stuff that no one will buy and then they have the fireman water contest. This year they had the firetruck ladder extended all the way up with the hose attached and at random, they'd turn it on and spray everyone. And then of course we went over to Barney's Auto for the free hot dogs and watermelon. I was kind of a party pooper because it was SO hot and humid--so we left. I just wanted to be cool and dry for a few minutes! When we got home we got good news that the pond was cleaned out so we could go swimming. For those of you who don't know what the pond is, it's a big cement pool-type thing that sits on my uncle's property. It's been there for a long time and the water comes from an artisan well. The water is fresh from the ground and COLD. The water is clean but the pond isn't exactly the cleanest. It's green with slime and there are a lot of water bugs in it but it's a way to cool off so we don't care! It's been good to us for many summers! Braden had lots of fun in it and going down the slide. After the pond we cleaned up and barbecued some soda pop chicken then watched a great firework show from the front lawn.

Saturday was more of just a lazy day. We all went swimming again and then we girls went and all got manicures. It rained off and on during the day and we had some great lightening shows! The boys had fun playing on the quads and getting dirty but what's new? They're boys. We had a great weekend and wish we could have stayed longer!Dad (my dad :o) and a not very happy Mackenzie(which is rare. She's never fussy except when hungry or tired. She's always happy and smiling! We love our little Kenzie-girl). She was probably just hot like the rest of us!This reminded me of the firetruck off of Cars (Fred?)My Uncle Mark, the MayorHaha, At first I had the caption of "My Uncle Mark, the Mayor" under this picture, then realized it was on the wrong one...I don't think he'd appreciate that! :o) Jackie, Clarice, Alliene, not a word. Anyway, I don't know why this was in the parade, just like I don't know why half of the things are in the parade but this dog was HUGE. It doesn't look so in this picture but it was big.Travis and our nephew Braden who is being a pirateTravis found a shopping cart on the side of the road and brought it home and ended up pushing Josh in it all around the yard. We were joking that we looked like major white trash with babies running around in their diapers and a shopping cart in our front yard.
Little Mackenzie sitting with "Grammy" singing songs.

Josh and Mackenize--All of my other videos are going the other direction and are too hard to see.