Happy Independence Day!

I had this great idea for the 4th of July. Boise does a community breakfast at the park the morning of the 4th, then there's a parade, and then in the afternoon there is a community river float. Mom, Dad, and Keith came to visit us and I thought that would be such a perfect plan for us to celebrate the holiday.

HOWEVER... July 3rd all six of us went golfing, shopped, went to dinner, watched a movie, and played so hard that all we wanted was to sleep late on Saturday. So we did! We ended up cooking our own breakfast and had TONS of food. Thanks to the "Head Chef" for the blueberry pancakes.

Chef's number 2 and 3 waiting on the sausage links

Carsen LOVES to be tickled and no one tickles quite like Grandpa. I'm not sure who enjoyed themselves more here.

After breakfast, we took a pole on what everybody wanted to do and the answer was .... golfing again! So we did. It reminded me of the time when ...

I grew up with a family of boys. Dad plus 4 older brothers made 5 men for me and mom to keep in line ;) Dad was always stressing the importance of doing activities together as a family. I remember being frequently irritated when I couldn't go to friends houses or shopping with just Mom because we were going to spend "family time". Family time meant we were either working in the garden or around the yard, or having a family "outing". Dad's motto: Work hard. Play hard. The problem I had was that the "outing" with our family of boys usually involved the golf course or the river. Fishing or golfing.

Mom and I went along sometimes not so happily to these activities. The result: I learned to like fishing and golfing. I could never stay mad because usually something hilarious occumpanied these family outings. I think that Dad may still have Search and Rescue on speed dial for all the times we got stuck out on the river. I think Brian and Nathan both had to make a few dives into the river to search for lost keys, hats, you name it. Golfing usually meant that Keith and I would loose more of Dad's golf balls than we should have, and yet Keith's score usually reflected a lower number than that of the balls he lost. So, thanks to my Mom and Dad for helping me make the best out of what I thought was a bad situation.

Now I'm married to a guy who likes the same things. He likes it that I can challenge his golf game (yeah, we both stink) and that I won't complain about going out on the river (I'll bring my bathing suit). This is kind of a lot of text, but something I want my posterity to remember. Things are usually only as fun as you make it!

So after golf, we spent the rest of the day chillin' in the pool, and then grilling steaks. Not even close to what I had planned, but probably more fun.

And I even managed to get Keith and Mom in the water!