The Tri-City Water Follies

This week we went to the Tri-City Water Follies. Its a big hydroplane boat race that they have every year. Mike helped direct parking so we got free tickets. It was really neat. They had the boat races and then an air show with a F-16 and a P 51 Mustang (a world war II fighter plane). I guess people come from all over the U.S to participate in it. This first picture is of one of the hydroplane races. It's rooster tail is huge and goes forever!

This is a picture of the planes flying together. They did a very nice memorative flight for the service men who are fighting in Iraq.
Joel is learning that flirting gets him something that no one else gets. Mike stopped and talked to one of the groups that had the boats to find out how they worked. While Mike chatted, Joel flirted. One of the ladies there took Joel and told me to get out the camera. Joel was the only one that they knew of that got their picture taken on one of the boats.
This is a picture of one of the big hydroplanes.
I guess this is proof that you can find fun where ever you are!

Paddle Boatin Down the River

This weekend we decided to get the paddle boat out of the rafters of the shed and take it down to the river and give it a try. It was a lot of fun! It took about an 1 1/2 to float to where we took the boat out. One of our housemates went with us and helped with Joel while Mike and I paddled.

Joel didn't quite know what to do with his new life jacket we found at a garage sale that morning for him!

Yes, it was a real paddle boat!

The river was so shallow that Mike had to get out and push every once in a while! Where we got out was a little steeper that we thought. Thankfully, there was a big group of people filling up on beer so a couple of them helped bring the boat up to the top! Well, Joel woke up so gotta go play with my baby!

Just Like Dad!

Joel is already working on being just like dad. He has preferred to be under the car rather than in the car. This is Joel's nascar bouncer and today he crawled right under it. He was happy while took his picture and then realized he couldn't sit up and got mad. I pulled him out and he found something else to get into! This week he started doing something he's not supposed to do yet-- he's pulling himself up on things-AHHHHHH! Help!!

Happy Independence Day

John Adams in a letter to his wife said:

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Isn't it amazing to read this quote and then think of the way that we celebrate the 4th of July? Mike, Joel and I had our first 4th of July by ourselves and decided that we are going to go to Idaho for the 4th every year. That will be our family vacation time.While we were waiting for the fireworks to start we took some fun pictures so enjoy!

Happy Birthday America!