Red White and Blue Festival

 Friday night (June 27) was the Mountain Home Red White and Blue Festival.  They have a fun set up on the campus and all the activities are free.  They did not have the go carts this year, which was disappointing, but the pony rides were a big hit.  I know.  No one really needs 45 photos of their kids on horses, but they were so cute! And the girls had so much fun with them we went back again to ride.  Even Marian got on a horse and enjoyed it.

There was bracelet making, a bounce house, a dunk tank (but it isn't fun to dunk total strangers), games, and big slides.  I managed to acquire some kettle corn that was delicious, and made me very happy. The girls also loved the balloon animals that a local bank was making and there was much fighting over them.  Sigh.

Overall, it was a successful evening.

Helping Grandpa

Nothing is more fun than helping Grandpa when he is doing something fun!  Much enjoyment was found as they assisted in some of his chores.

Moving the trailer provided a fun ride in the truck.  Riding in the truck was their favorite thing to do.

Hauling dead tree limbs to the bonfire was hard work.

Lots of helpers made it easier.

Oooh, what did we find while stacking wood on the truck?

A new friend!

Or.... maybe not.

Marian found another helper!

Or.... maybe not.

After the wood was hauled and the fire was going, it was time for S'mores!!

Yummy!

Yep, one happy girl.

Then there was some wood-chopping.  Pay no attention to the fact that she is not wearing any shoes!  I nearly had a heart attack every time she swung the axe.  I was so afraid she was going to lose a toe.  That axe was HEAVY!

Watching the axe-swinging from a safe spot.

Callie had a go of it.  She managed to keep all her appendages as well, thank goodness.

Then grandpa showed them how to do it like a boss.  

The girls were properly impressed.

Boating on the pond

My folks have a rubber raft that has seen better days.  Marian and Callie did not see a battered, leaky rubber raft when they looked at it though.  Oh, no. When they looked at it, they saw a sleek vessel that would sail them through the raging seas.  Every day they would ask if they could take it on the pond. They were not concerned about the slow leak of air out of it.  They just wanted to paddle and play.

The kids did get the raft on the water.  They were pretty ingenious about it.  They would paddle around for a bit, then beach it and pump it back up before heading back out again. This gave them many hours of entertainment and joy.  The big kids even took the little kids out for rides.  They tied the raft to a line so the raft with Rylee and Delaney in it could float out a ways and then they would tow the little girls back in. 

Yep, more park fun!

The kids love the park with the merry go round.  There are so few of those left, and it amazes me how much fun they have on it.  They spend most of the time spinning around and around and having a marvelous time doing it.  Almost as cool as the park, is getting to ride there in grandpa's Model A!

Are you jealous?  Because you should be!

The other favorite thing to do.

Rylee must have her photo taken too.

Learning new tricks.

Rylee thought Grandpa was part of the playground.

Callie does not like having her picture taken.

And then the park fun was over and Grandpa drove the kids home in the cool car.

Merry-Go-Round Jumping.... a New Sport