July 4th Tradition

Our July 4th celebration has become a family tradition. We go to Snyder to take advantage of the festivities in Towle Park. We start the day with the Parade. The kids enjoy watching the people, cars, and animals go by, but they are really there to get the candy the people throw. They usually get a bag full then eat it as fast as they can. It is almost as good as Halloween. My Dad drove his Studebaker in the parade and my Mom and Aunt Lorita rode with him this year. It is fun for the kids to see them participate in the parade. There was a miniature horse and a baby camel in the parade too. You don't see those everyday!

After the parade we go back to the house and have lunch then head to the carnival. The kids just love to ride all the kiddie rides. This year they rode the dragon roller coaster, merry-go-round, spinning strawberries, tall bumpy slide, airplanes, hot air balloons, and ran the obstacle coarse. They are the same rides year after year, but the kids don't seem to notice. Luke enjoyed the carnival more this year. With each year he gets braver. He actually rode the dragon roller coaster with a smile on his face. The first year he rode it I rode with him. Let's just say he wanted it to stop right after it started...there was screaming and a few tears. He would not even ride it last year.

After we use up all our tickets at the carnival we head over to the sand volleyball tournament. Uncle Aaron plays in the tournament every year. We always try to go watch at least part of a game. This year we watched all of one game and part of another. When the kids got too hot to care about the game anymore we went back to Memaw's house to rest.

In the evening the Stansells gather for the annual picnic at Aunt Shirley's house. We have hot dogs, hamburgers, and most important homemade ice cream to eat. My mom came with us this year. I was so glad she did, it meant I had a couple of extra hands. I think she enjoyed visiting with everybody and eating all the good food. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and eating ice cream! I think Kate had about three cups of ice cream! When she finished one cup she would cry for more. Johnnie's Dad would feed her his until I could get her some more. Ice cream is her new favorite food!

After the picnic it is off to find a good place to watch the fireworks in the park. This year we watched them by the volleyball courts with Aunt Johnnie, Tenley, Miles, Memaw Linda, and Johnnie's family. It was a great display as always! Kate watched for the first time. She was not even phased by the loud bangs and noises. When the fireworks in the park were over we headed back the Memaw Linda and Grandad Bob's house to light some sparklers. This is the kids first year to have sparklers. They really liked them. I think we will have to add them to our tradition!

We all had a fun 4th of July as usual. I can't think of a better place to celebrate than in Snyder. Snyder does a great job with the parade, carnival, and fireworks. The kids look forward to it year after year. This year was special because it was Baby Kate's first 4th of July. We missed Chris because he worked. We also missed Grandnanna who was sick with a virus. Next year we hope they will join us when we do it all again!