It was fun to return to Beaver for the 24th of July. We hadn't been in a few years because of extended family schedules but we were happy it worked out to get together again. Of course, the day starts off bright and early with the cannons shooting off at sunrise. It's not quite as bad if you're sleeping in the basement, the house doesn't shake down there. After being awaken by deafening explosions, Lindsey and I dressed and headed out with my sister and some of her family to run the 5k race. Having been patrons of the race it's inaugural year, we were surprised to see how much it had grown. The first year we ran the race, there were probably 15 people. This year there were 178. After the three busloads of people were transported to the starting line, the race was started. I felt like the tortoise amidst many hares but with a slow and steady pace I made my way up from last place-- I was even able to catch up to Lindsey. She crossed the finish line before me but we did come in together. I think everyone was surprised, including myself, to find out I had gotten second place (in my age group, my sister was first place) and was the recipient of a beautiful, plastic trophy! I'm not sure if my time is getting better or the competition is getting sparser with age.
With the race finished, we showered and got everyone ready to enjoy a good old-fashioned parade. The Beaver parade is fun because it's not so crowded that you can't get a good seat (we do have to put chairs out the night before), and there is enough entertainment to keep your interest, not to mention the endless bagfuls of candy being thrown along with cheese curd, frisbees, and otter pops
. The much anticipated finale of the parade is the big fire truck that sprays all the kids as they follow it down the street. I know Luke really looks forward to that part.Once the parade is finished we congregated at the city park where there was a carnival, snow cones, and bouncy houses. We spent time there catching up with old friends who returned to Beaver for the festivities, and watched the kids play. It doesn't take too long before the races started. That's another tradition my kids like. There are foot races at the city park. They split the kids up by age off they go. It is as much fun to run the races as it is to be a parent. I always look forward to being at the finish line and having your little ones run into your arms. Matthew got confused this year as those on the sidelines were cheering louder than I was and he ran towards them instead. I don't have many left that get to run to me as they start making the parents move out of the finish area as the kids get older. There is always a big prize at the end--a quarter for the winner and a tootsie pop for all the participants. Lindsey and I ran in the mother/daughter race. With the head start they let the mothers have, I was able to beat her to the finish line.
That evening we got together for the traditional barbecue and fireworks at my cousins house.
It is always fun to get together with so much family. There is usually about 40 kids and about that many adults as well. It is really nice of my cousin to host this every year. The annual volleyball game of Yardleys vs. in-laws was held in the backyard. The in-laws like to talk themselves up but we manage to beat them--most of the time. There were many more games of volleyball throughout the evening. Luke had a lot of fun playing and got quite good at serving. As night fell the fireworks began. The city puts on quite a show and they are shot off from the park just down the road from my cousins so they are quite close. Then we did fireworks in the backyard. Luke and his cousin Jacob got to light them and they had a blast. Matthew and Savannah loved the sparklers, I think this is the first year Matthew has done sparklers. It was an eventful and great day. There's no better way to celebrate our state's heritage by spending it with part of your own heritage.The next day, James and I were lucky enough to go an a four wheeling adventure. We went with
my sister, Melinda, and her husband, Mark, and my cousin, Alison, and her husband, Jim. We went on the trails up behind their house and eventually came to the top of a mountain peak where we could look out over the whole valley. James and I had a great time doing this. It was so beautiful up in those mountains. I gave everyone a scare when I revved my four wheeler up the side of a hill only to realize too late that the other side of the hill was a drop-off. I'm sure the look on my face was quite startling but it all ended well. I landed the jump and continued on after waiting for my stomach to come out of my throat.The kids also had the opportunity to go to the farm and help with the show steers and lambs.
I don't know if they thought this was fun but it was a good experience for them. Luke also got to ride the four wheeler down at the farm. He is insisting we get one now. I got to tell my kids the story of how we got the first four wheeler down there. When I was in sixth grade my dad promised us that if one of us (me, Richard or Ronald) won the spelling bee he would buy a four wheeler. Richard and Ronald wanted that four wheeler so badly they would come to my house every night and we would practice. After the first round and they were placed in the B & C groups (you have to be in the A group to win overall) they would come every night and continue to practice--quizzing me. As luck 
would have it, I did win that spelling bee but my dad never got around to buying the four wheeler until I was in college. My kids heard a lot of fun stories about how we grew up this trip because we took them through the house we grew up in. I think we were all surprised at how small it seemed with no furniture or people in it. Now my kids have a reference point when I say things like "When I grew up. . ."
